Free-Water Elimination (FWE) reduces partial volume effects from cerebrospinal fluid in DTI of the human spinal cord

Motivation: Diffusion tensor imaging in the spinal cord is compromised by partial volume effects from surrounding cerebrospinal fluid. Free-water elimination shows promise of partial volume effect reduction in the brain but has never been tested on the human spinal cord. Goal(s): Determine the feasibility of free-water elimination for diffusion tensor imaging of the human spinal cord. Approach: The free-water elimiation correction was tested on both simulated data and in vivo on a healthy volunteer. Results: Free water elimination produced realistic parameter maps and deomstrated reduced partial volume effects in both simulated and in vivo data. Impact: Findings display reduced partial volume effects in diffusion tensor imaging of spinal cord with the use of free-water elimination. Potentially facilitating more accurate assessment of microstructural changes and surveillance of patients with spinal cord affection.