Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi Hirokoji Sagaru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, Japan.
Neuroradiology. 2013 Feb;55(3):283-90. doi: 10.1007/s00234-012-1105-x. Epub 2012 Oct 25.
q-Space imaging is a novel magnetic resonance (MR) technique that enables the assessment of ultrastructural changes of white matter. We hypothesized that this technique would facilitate the assessment of the progressive nature of neuronal damage seen in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).
This study was approved by the institutional review board. Seven consecutive adult patients (five men and two women) with the CADASIL gene mutation were studied. Two patients were preclinical cases without overt episodes of stroke. The control group consisted of five normal volunteers. All MR examinations were performed using a 1.5-T whole-body imager. q-Space imaging was performed using a single-shot, echo-planar imaging technique and Δ/δ = 142/17 ms. Gradient magnitudes were increased in nine steps to reach a maximal b value of 10,000 s/mm². Total acquisition time of q-space imaging was 25 min. The ADC maps calculated from the b = 1,000 images were used for comparisons.
Both q-space imaging and ADC maps depicted progressive neuronal damage. Early neuronal damage was especially well depicted using q-space imaging, with preferential involvement of the frontal lobes and central gray matters. Later progression was better depicted by b = 1,000 ADC maps at the temporal lobes. Visual assessment of images revealed a trend for occipital lobe sparing, especially on q-space imaging.
q-Space imaging demonstrated early neuronal damage in a characteristic distribution. Since this method appears to be sensitive to early neuronal damage, it could conceivably aid in monitoring patients in the preclinical stage and may help in assessing the effects of future medical interventions.
q 空间成像是一种新的磁共振（MR）技术，可用于评估白质的超微结构变化。我们假设，该技术将有助于评估脑常染色体显性动脉病伴皮质下梗死和白质脑病（CADASIL）中所见神经元损伤的进行性。
本研究经机构审查委员会批准。研究纳入了 7 例连续的成年 CADASIL 基因突变患者（5 名男性，2 名女性）。其中 2 例为无明显中风发作的临床前病例。对照组由 5 名正常志愿者组成。所有磁共振检查均在 1.5T 全身成像仪上进行。q 空间成像采用单次激发、回波平面成像技术，Δ/δ = 142/17ms。梯度幅度增加 9 个步骤，达到最大 b 值为 10,000 s/mm²。q 空间成像的总采集时间为 25 分钟。使用 b = 1,000 图像计算 ADC 图进行比较。
q 空间成像和 ADC 图均显示进行性神经元损伤。q 空间成像尤其能很好地显示早期神经元损伤，额叶和中央灰质受累明显。b = 1,000 ADC 图在颞叶更好地显示后期进展。图像的视觉评估显示枕叶有避免受累的趋势，q 空间成像尤其如此。
q 空间成像显示了特征性分布的早期神经元损伤。由于该方法似乎对早期神经元损伤敏感，因此它有可能有助于监测临床前阶段的患者，并可能有助于评估未来医学干预的效果。
