Development of a Novel Multi-Parametric Quantitative MRI Method and its Application to the Detection of Epileptic Focus

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17150
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Hagiwara Akifumi 順天堂大学, 医学部, 准教授 (20768535)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: MRI / Na MRI / てんかん / FCD

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Epileptic focus identification is crucial for improving surgical outcomes. Non-invasive methods like MRI fail to identify foci in 20-30% of patients, leading to invasive brain wave tests. Sodium (23Na) MRI shows promise in detecting foci due to epilepsy's excessive neuronal excitations. This study aimed to develop a minimally invasive and objective method using Multi-Parametric Quantitative MRI with Na MRI to detect challenging epileptic foci. Promising results, including simultaneous imaging with double half-echo and H MRI, and analysis of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), were obtained. Implementation of faster double half-echo imaging for Na MRI and successful simultaneous Na and H MRI acquisition were achieved. This study lays the groundwork for clinical adoption of Na MRI and provides insights for improving FCD detection using MRI.

Free Research Field

脳MRI

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Na MRIの撮像時間短縮を目的としたdouble half-echo撮像の実装やNaとH MRIの同時撮像を達成した。Na MRIは通常のH MRIと別のコイルで別途撮像することが必要であり、それが臨床導入を妨げていた。本研究により、Na MRIの臨床普及を進める素地が整えることができたと考えられる。また、FCDのMRIによる病態解明を行ったことで、今後MRIによるFCDの検出力を向上させる検討の素地を整えることができたと考えられる。