T 2Relaxation
Abstract The MR signal from spinal cord tissue arises almost entirely from water. T 2 -weighted contrast is determined by tissue water properties and is a valuable tool for qualitative…
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Mapping the Vasculature of the Spinal Cord
Abstract Spinal cord arteries and veins represent tiny, millimeter-to-submillimeter blood vessels for which in vivo depiction has only recently become possible using noninvasive imaging techniques. A brief overview of the…
Susceptibility Artifacts
Abstract In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord is challenging due to susceptibility variations between various tissue types, air in the lungs and trachea, and in some cases…
Q-Space Imaging: A Model-Free Approach
Abstract This chapter will introduce the q -space theory, which describes the behavior of water molecules probing their restricted environment without assuming a specific probability function of their spatial distribution….
Advanced Methods to Study White Matter Microstructure
Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and specifically diffusion MRI opened, for the first time, a window into the in vivo physiology of white matter. Almost two decades ago, diffusion tensor…
Array Coils
Abstract Radiofrequency receive-only coil arrays consist of a spatial arrangement of several small surface coil elements that record the magnetic resonance signal independently. This provides two major benefits: first, the…
B 0Inhomogeneity and Shimming
Abstract In the human spinal cord, the magnetic flux density is spatially inhomogeneous, which is mainly due to the different susceptibilities of the vertebrae, the intervertebral disks, and the air-filled…
Ultra-High Field Spinal Cord Imaging
Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the human spinal cord in vivo suffers from multiple practical limitations: low signal-to-noise ratio, the need for high resolution, and the detrimental influence of…
Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Acute Spinal Cord Injury and Prognosis
Abstract Prior to the widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the diagnosis of acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) was largely based on clinical history, physical examination, plain film…
Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Chronic Spinal Cord Injury and Recovery
Abstract The introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) has vastly improved the diagnosis of injury level and severity as well as the…
