Development of a tissue water fraction analysis method using quantitative parameter mapping for magnetic resonance...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Biomarker Discovery
• Quantitative MRI

Background:

• The myelin sheath insulates nerve axons, crucial for rapid signal transmission.
• Myelin water fraction (MWF) is a vital biomarker for myelin integrity.
• Current MWF measurement methods lack consistency, posing a challenge for clinical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To derive Myelin Water Fraction (MWF) using Quantitative Parameter Mapping (QPM).
• To assess the reproducibility and reliability of QPM for MWF quantification.
• To explore the potential clinical applicability of QPM-based MWF measurement.

Main Methods:

• QPM-MRI was performed on five healthy volunteers using a 3-Tesla scanner and a 3D-RSSG sequence.
• Pseudo-intensity images were generated, and a brain tissue model equation was applied.
• Triexponential curve fitting estimated tissue component amplitudes for MWF calculation.

Main Results:

• Mean MWF values were 8.20 ± 4.97% for white matter and 7.99 ± 3.45% for gray matter.
• QPM demonstrated consistent imaging conditions across scanners for stable parameter acquisition.
• High accuracy in relaxation time estimation was achieved, enabling stable MWF quantification.

Conclusions:

• QPM provides a reproducible and accurate method for MWF quantification.
• The technique allows for 3D data acquisition within clinically relevant scan times.
• QPM-based MWF measurement shows significant potential for clinical implementation in neurological assessments.