Investig Magn Reson Imaging.  2021 Jun;25(2):76-80. 10.13104/imri.2021.25.2.76.

The Emerging Role of Fast MR Techniques in Traumatic Brain Injury

• Yoo RE
• Choi SH

• KMID: 2517251
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13104/imri.2021.25.2.76

Abstract

Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a major factor that contributes to the increased socioeconomic burden caused by TBI. Myelin loss has been implicated in the development of PCS following mTBI. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a traditional imaging modality for the evaluation of axonal and myelin integrity in mTBI, has intrinsic limitations, including its lack of specificity and its time-consuming and labor-intensive post-processing analysis. More recently, various fast MR techniques based on multicomponent relaxometry (MCR), including QRAPMASTER, mcDESPOT, and MDME sequences, have been developed. These MCRbased sequences can provide myelin water fraction/myelin volume fraction, a quantitative parameter more specific to myelin, which might serve as a surrogate marker of myelin volume, in a clinically feasible time. In this review, we summarize the clinical application of the MCR-based fast MR techniques in mTBI patients.

Keyword

Post-concussion syndrome; Mild traumatic brain injury; Myelin; Diffusion tensor imaging; Multi-component relaxometry