Temperature correction of post mortem quantitative magnetic resonance imaging using real-time forehead temperature...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Forensic Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of deceased individuals presents challenges due to temperature variations compared to living subjects.
• Accurate quantitative MRI analysis in post mortem brains necessitates temperature correction methods.
• In situ post mortem MRI requires non-invasive techniques for temperature adjustment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of real-time, non-invasive temperature correction for brain MRI parameters in post mortem cases.
• To establish a correlation between forehead temperature and quantitative MRI parameters in the deceased brain.
• To develop a method for temperature correction applicable to in situ post mortem brain MRI scans.

Main Methods:

• Inclusion of 17 post mortem cases for in situ brain MRI.
• Continuous forehead temperature measurement during MRI acquisition (diffusion tensor imaging, multi-contrast spin echo, multi-echo gradient echo, inversion recovery spin echo).
• Fitting linear models to quantitative MRI parameters (T2, mean diffusivity, T1) in white matter, cerebral cortex, and deep gray matter to determine temperature sensitivity.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant temperature sensitivity identified for T2 and mean diffusivity in white matter.
• Significant temperature sensitivity observed for T1 in the cerebral cortex.
• Significant temperature sensitivity found for T1 and mean diffusivity in deep gray matter.

Conclusions:

• Linear models were successfully computed to temperature-correct specific MRI parameters in situ post mortem brain scans.
• The developed method allows for temperature-independent comparison of quantitative MRI parameters.
• This real-time, non-invasive temperature correction is a crucial advancement for quantitative in situ post mortem MRI.