1. Multicenter R2* mapping in the healthy brain.
- Author
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Ropele S, Wattjes MP, Langkammer C, Kilsdonk ID, Graaf WL, Frederiksen JL, Fuglø D, Yiannakas M, Wheeler-Kingshott CA, Enzinger C, Rocca MA, Sprenger T, Amman M, Kappos L, Filippi M, Rovira A, Ciccarelli O, Barkhof F, and Fazekas F
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Europe, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Organ Size, Reference Values, Reproducibility of Results, Sensitivity and Specificity, Young Adult, Brain anatomy & histology, Gray Matter anatomy & histology, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted methods, Imaging, Three-Dimensional methods, Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods, White Matter anatomy & histology
- Abstract
Purpose: The R2* relaxation rate constant has been suggested as a sensitive measure for iron accumulation. The aim of this multi-center study was to assess the inter-scanner and inter-subject variability of R2* mapping and to investigate the relationship between brain volume and R2* in specific structures., Methods: R2* mapping was performed in 81 healthy subjects in seven centers using different 3 T systems. R2* was calculated from a dual-echo gradient echo sequence and was assessed in several deep gray matter structures. The inter-scanner and inter-subject variability of R2* was calculated by means of the coefficient of variation before and after correcting for age., Results: Significant center effects were seen in some regions which get lost after age correction. The coefficient of variation for the inter-center variability was much lower (<5.6%) than for the intra-subject variability (6.7%-11.7%). R2* in the putamen and red nucleus scaled with cortical volume while R2* in the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra was negatively associated with white matter volume., Conclusion: R2* is a robust and reproducible measure in a multicenter setting provided that a standardized MRI protocol is used. The relationship between iron concentration in deep gray matter and volume of specific brain compartments needs further investigation., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
- Published
- 2014
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