Volunteer Scanning on MR

Clinical Center

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

During the past year, we resumed scanning healthy volunteers under the 98-CC-0019 protocl as COVID related restrictions were eased. However, because of limited staff we have only performed a few such scans and concentrated mostly on publication. In one publication, we demonstrated that multishot (segmented) EPI based 3D gradient echo T2* susceptibility weighted imaging developed under the 98-CC-0019 protocol. This sequence is used to identify subdural effusions in patients with traumatic head injuries. We are analyzing data obtained previously under this protocol to use the above method to generate 400 micron isotropic images of the entire head. This manuscript is not yet submitted. Under the 98-CC0019 protocol, we we devised a method for performing dynamic diffusion imaging using a -"nested cubes" approach. In this approach, we show that the appropriate selection of gradient directions can enable measurement of dynamic changes in diffusivity (e.g. trace ADC) using the same data that can also be used to measure traditional static diffusion tensor metrics (e.g. fractional anisotropy) that is in widespread use in both the clincal and research setting This was just accepted for publication by the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (in proof) Gangolli M, Wang WT, Gai ND, Pham DL, Butman JA. Simultaneous Acquisition of Diffusion Tensor and Dynamic Diffusion MRI. JMRI doi:10.1002/jmri.28407 In FY22, we established collaborations with outside groups to use the DDI approaches we have been developing to evaluate patients with traumatic brain injury (collaboration with UT Southwestern) and patients with migraine (collaboration with Copenhagen University). IN FY22 we performed 10 MRIs to test and evaluate the sequences used in support the development of other research protocols (e.g. resting state fMRI sequences used for the Gangliosidosis gene therapy protocol, high resolution hippocampal imaging for the Epilepsy clinic) as well as to improve "routine" clinical imaging in RADIS.