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The dependence of cerebral interstitial fluid on diffusion-sensitizing directions: A multi-b-value diffusion MRI study in a memory clinic sample

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, vol. 104, pp. 97–104

Abstract

Three-component intravoxel incoherent motion (3C-IVIM) imaging with spectral analysis provides a proxy for interstitial fluid (ISF) (e.g., in perivascular spaces (PVS), granting a potential marker for altered cerebral clearance. When 3C-IVIM images are acquired with three orthogonal diffusion-sensitizing directions, these are often averaged into the Trace image. This may result in loss of valuable direction-specific information, particularly in PVS-rich regions (basal ganglia (BG) and centrum semiovale (CSO)). This study assessed the dependence of individual diffusion-sensitizing directions to the ISF fraction in PVS-rich regions. Additionally, we explored the value of diffusion direction-specific information on ISF characteristics in distinguishing thirty-one patients with cognitive impairment (CI) (Alzheimer's disease (n = 15) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (n = 16)) from thirty cognitively healthy elderly controls (CON). Multi-b-value diffusion-weighted images were acquired in three orthogonal directions (L-R (left-right), A-P (anterior-posterior) and S-I (superior-inferior)) at 3 T. Voxel-based spectral analysis using non-negative least squares was conducted to independently analyze the L-R, A-P, S-I, and Trace images. 3C-IVIM measures were first compared between diffusion-sensitizing directions and the Trace within the BG using repeated measures ANOVA. Subsequently, the 3C-IVIM measures were compared per direction between the CI and CSO group in the BG and CSO with multivariable linear regression. Our results show that the ISF fraction significantly differs between all diffusion-sensitizing directions and Trace in the BG, with the highest ISF fraction detected using S-I. Solely using S-I, a higher ISF fraction was identified in CI compared to CON in the BG (p = .020) and CSO (p = .046). Thereby, this study found that the measured ISF fraction depends on the acquired diffusion-sensitizing direction, where S-I is most sensitive to detect ISF and differences between CI and CON. The Trace approach is not always sensitive enough to ISF characteristics. Solely acquiring S-I may offer an alternative to reduce scanning time.

Authors 7

  1. Maastricht University · Maastricht University Medical Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: merel.vanderthiel@maastrichtuniversity.nl

    Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

  2. Maastricht University · Maastricht University Medical Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Intensive Care, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: n.vanderknaap@maastrichtuniversity.nl

    Department of Intensive Care, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

  3. Maastricht University · Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address: w.m.freeze@lumc.nl

    Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

  4. Maastricht University · Maastricht University Medical Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: l.jacobi@mumc.nl

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

  5. Maastricht University · Maastricht University Medical Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Intensive Care, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: marcel.aries@mumc.nl

    Department of Intensive Care, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

  6. Maastricht University · Maastricht University Medical Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: w.backes@mumc.nl

    Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

  7. Jacobus F.A. Jansen corresponding

    Maastricht University · Eindhoven University of Technology · Maastricht University Medical Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Electronic address: jacobus.jansen@mumc.nl

    Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

    Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

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References 44