Simultaneous T1 quantification across brain and entire cervical cord in traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI)

Motivation: Underlying mechanisms of spinal cord injury (SCI), including structural and myelin changes are understudied. T1 quantification is indirectly sensitive to tissue microstructure along the central nervous system (CNS). Goal(s): To investigate SCI-induced tissue changes using MP2RAGE T1 quantification above and below the lesion site. Approach: Quantitative T1 (qT1) values were obtained in 18 SCI and 20 healthy subjects using an optimized MP2RAGE sequence covering both the brain and cervical cord (C1-C7). Results: SCI showed significantly higher qT1 values in the cervical cord compared to healthy subjects, suggesting myelin alterations remote from the site of injury. Impact: T1 mapping along the central nervous system enables better understanding anterograde and retrograde degenerative processes in vivo after SCI within scan times appropriate for clinical routine.