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Updated: Jan 19, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: April 30, 2023
White Matter Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis Evaluated by Quantitative Synthetic MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging,
A Hagiwara1,2, K Kamagata3, K Shimoji3,4
1From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.) a-hagiwara@juntendo.ac.jp.
Background And Purpose:
A number of MR-derived quantitative metrics have been suggested to assess the pathophysiology of MS, but the reports about combined analyses of these metrics are scarce. Our aim was to assess the spatial distribution of parameters for white matter myelin and axon integrity in patients with relapsing-remitting MS by multiparametric MR imaging.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty-four patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 24 age- and sex-matched controls were prospectively scanned by quantitative synthetic and 2-shell diffusion MR imaging. Synthetic MR imaging data were used to retrieve relaxometry parameters (R1 and R2 relaxation rates and proton density) and myelin volume fraction. Diffusion tensor metrics (fractional anisotropy and mean, axial, and radial diffusivity) and neurite orientation and dispersion index metrics (intracellular volume fraction, isotropic volume fraction, and orientation dispersion index) were retrieved from diffusion MR imaging data. These data were analyzed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics.
Results:
Patients with MS showed significantly lower fractional anisotropy and myelin volume fraction and higher isotropic volume fraction in widespread white matter areas. Areas with different isotropic volume fractions were included within areas with lower fractional anisotropy. Myelin volume fraction showed no significant difference in some areas with significantly decreased fractional anisotropy in MS, including in the genu of the corpus callosum and bilateral anterior corona radiata, whereas myelin volume fraction was significantly decreased in some areas where fractional anisotropy showed no significant difference, including the bilateral posterior limb of the internal capsule, external capsule, sagittal striatum, fornix, and uncinate fasciculus.
Conclusions:
We found differences in spatial distribution of abnormality in fractional anisotropy, isotropic volume fraction, and myelin volume fraction distribution in MS, which might be useful for characterizing white matter in patients with MS.
Insights
Multiparametric MRI reveals distinct white matter abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS). Spatial distribution of myelin and axon integrity markers differ, aiding in characterizing MS pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Quantitative MRI
- White Matter Integrity
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) pathophysiology assessment often uses MR-derived metrics.
- Combined analyses of these quantitative metrics are limited.
- Understanding spatial distribution of white matter damage is crucial in MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the spatial distribution of white matter myelin and axon integrity parameters in relapsing-remitting MS patients.
- To utilize multiparametric MRI for a comprehensive analysis.
- To identify characteristic patterns of white matter changes in MS.
Main Methods:
- Prospective scanning of 24 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 24 controls using quantitative synthetic and 2-shell diffusion MRI.
- Extraction of relaxometry (R1, R2, proton density, myelin volume fraction) and diffusion tensor/neurite orientation metrics.
- Analysis of data using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS).
Main Results:
- MS patients exhibited widespread reductions in fractional anisotropy and myelin volume fraction, alongside increased isotropic volume fraction in white matter.
- Areas with altered isotropic volume fraction were contained within regions of reduced fractional anisotropy.
- Myelin volume fraction changes did not always correlate with fractional anisotropy reductions, indicating distinct spatial patterns of damage.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences in the spatial distribution of fractional anisotropy, isotropic volume fraction, and myelin volume fraction were observed in MS patients.
- These distinct spatial patterns may aid in characterizing white matter abnormalities in MS.
- Multiparametric MRI offers valuable insights into the complex pathophysiology of MS.
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