Detecting myelin

Myelin Detection Using Rapid Quantitative MR Imaging Correlated to Macroscopically Registered Luxol Fast Blue-Stained Brain Specimens.Warntjes JBM, Persson A, Berge J, Zech W.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017 . doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A5168. [Epub ahead of print]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Myelin detection is of great value in monitoring diseases such as multiple sclerosis and dementia. However, most MR imaging methods to measure myelin are challenging for routine clinical use. Recently, a novel method was published, in which the presence of myelin is inferred by using its effect on the intra- and extracellular water relaxation rates and proton density, observable by rapid quantitative MR imaging. The purpose of this work was to validate this method further on the brains of 12 fresh, intact cadavers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 12 brains were scanned with a quantification sequence to determine the longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates and proton density as input for the myelin estimations. Subsequently, the brains were excised at postmortem examination, and brain slices were stained with Luxol fast blue to verify the presence of myelin. The optical density values of photographs of the stained brain slices were registered with the MR images and correlated with the myelin estimation performed by quantitative MR imaging.
RESULTS: A correlation was found between the 2 methods with a mean Spearman ρ for all subjects of 0.74 ± 0.11. Linear regression showed a mean intercept of 1.50% ± 2.84% and a mean slope of 4.37% ± 1.73%/%. A lower correlation was found for the separate longitudinal relaxation rates and proton density (ρ = 0.63 ± 0.12 and -0.73 ± 0.09, respectively). For transverse relaxation rates, the ρ was very low (0.11 ± 0.28).
CONCLUSIONS: The observed correlation supports the validity of myelin measurement by using the MR imaging quantification method.

If true this should be an advance in this study they imaged dead people and then did the histology to suggest whats seen is myelination, so more easy validation steps. Too often we see MR parameter this or MR parameter that described to be this or that, based on unconfirmed presumptions. Eg Gadolium is alway presumed to be cell infiltration, when it is probably just fluid movement and therefore is more extensive than cellular movement.

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