Takumi Yokohama¹, Motoyuki Iwasaki², Daisuke Oura¹, Sho Furuya³, Yoshimasa Niiya², and Tomoyuki Okuaki^4
1Radiology, Otaru General Hospital, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, ²Neurosurgery, Otaru General Hospital, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, ³Nuclear of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, ⁴Radiology, Philips Healthcare, Tokyo, Japan

We evaluated the perioperative FA change in CSM patients using ZOOM DTI. As a result, the FA value after decompression surgery showed the proper state of the damaged cord and had a significant positive relationship with the patient’s outcome. The postsurgical FA value can become an accurate prognostic factor. Besides, the presurgical FA value did not have any relationships with the patient’s outcome, the reason why that a masking effect as an “Aligned Fibers Effect” due to strongly stenosis even using fine resolution DTI.

Xin Dong^1,2, Olumide Awelewa^1,2, Graham Galloway¹, Viral Chikani³, Rob Robergs², and Arnold Ng^3
1Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Australia, ²Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, ³Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Australia

VARPRO is a novel fat water separation sequence that shows promise for myocardial lipid characterisation. Two questions were addressed in this study: 1. Does VARPRO provide the same myocardial fat-fraction result compared to established magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)? 2. Is the myocardial fat-fraction obtained by VARPRO reproducible? The results suggest the two methods are strongly associated but agreed poorly. The VARPRO estimation is proportionally biased, however, the bias can be easily accounted for using a linear equation. The temporal reproducibility of VARPRO is satisfactory. VARPRO could be a potential, alternative modality to MRS in myocardial lipid quantification.

Weiling Lee¹, Peik Yen Teh¹, Hartono Septian^2,3, Nicolas Kon Kam King⁴, Prakash Kumar M ², Jongho Lee⁵, and Ling Ling Chan^1,3
1Division of Radiological Sciences, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore, ²Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore, ³Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore, ⁴Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore, ⁵Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

High resolution susceptibility map-weighted images (SMWI) has recently been developed to improve visualization of the nigrosome-1 region of the substantia nigra (SN) on 3T imaging. SMWI utilizes susceptibility weighting mask derived from quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) to enhance the contrast for the SWI magnitude images. In this study, we explore the utility of SMWI to enhance visual identification of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) at 3T, which may be useful to aid in neuro-navigational procedures requiring precise and accurate identification of the STN such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery.

Petronella Samuels^1,2, Kirsten Donald^3,4, Catherine Wedderburn^3,4,5, Ernesta Meintjes^1,2, and Frances Robertson^1,2
1Cape Universities Body Imaging Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, ²Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, ³Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town, SA, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, ⁴Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, ⁵Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine,, London, United Kingdom

We retrospectively analyzed ¹HMRS data from right and left parietal white matter in a study of 2-year-old children, aiming to determine whether there was a difference between right and left hemispheres in metabolite ratios to creatine. We found concentration ratios of NAA and choline to be higher on the left and Glu+Gln higher on the right. Correlation between right and left was highest for myo-inositol (r= 0.81), but fairly low for NAA (r = 0.63) and Glu+Gln (r = 0.42). Consideration should be given to hemisphere selection when planning ¹HMRS studies in young children.

Nancy Talbot¹ and Tanya Wah Kan^1
1Joint Department of Medical Imaging, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

Implementing protocols for patients with deep brain neurostimulators (DBS) that have whole body conditions can be challenging. To obtain sequences that meet the B1+rms RF deposition requirements may require modifications image quality and coverage.  T1 weighted imaging can be achieved utilizing gradient echo pulse sequences, however these do not suffice for T2 weighted imaging. For T2 weighted turbo spin echo sequences multiple paramter changes are made including echo train length, slice thickness and gap, matrix, averages, flip angle and gradient operation modes. The implementation of a checklists assists the technologists in ensure conditions are met, and patient safety is ensured.

Nickolas J Palmer^1,2, Tracy R Melzer^3,4, Jenny H Sim^1,5, Mustafa M Almuqbel^2,3,4, Daniel J Myall⁴, Michael R MacAskill^3,4, Reza Shoorangiz^4,6, Ross J Keenan^2,4, John C Dalrymple-Alford^3,4, and Tim J Anderson^3,4
1University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, ²Pacific Radiology Group, Christchurch, New Zealand, ³University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand, ⁴The New Zealand Brain Research Institution, Christchurch, New Zealand, ⁵Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, ⁶The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

Basal ganglia degeneration is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. However, invivo tracking of these structures has not been fully explored longitudinally.This longitudinal study investigates changes in the volume of basal ganglia nuclei in PD over time, with correlation of these changes in measures of cognition and laterality of motor impairment. At cross-section, the PD group exhibited volume changes in the basal ganglia, but no evidence of a relationship with laterality of symptom onset. Over time, the PD group showed accelerated atrophy relative to controls in the thalamus, caudate, and putamen.

Angela Agostinelli^1
1Radiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

An abbreviated breast MRI protocol has been developed utilising an ultrafast view sharing technique.
 

Kousaku Saotome^1
1Center for Evolutionary Cognitive Sciences,, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

We developed the brain phantom for T₁-weighted image (T₁WI) showing image contrast and construction similar to those of in vivo MRI by using 3D printer. This phantom was produced according to a novel method using a partial volume effect in a slice plane. As our results, we can see that the T₁WI of in vivo and the phantom were in very good agreement. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient (R²) between both T₁WIs was 0.941 (p < 0.001). Our phantoms might be powerful tools to use for experiments that need ethically unacceptable long scanning or systematic movements.