Noninvasive Electrical Conductivity Imaging By Using Brain MRI

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26461817
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Radiation science
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Tha KhinKhin 北海道大学, 医学研究科, 特任講師 (20451445)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 導電率 / MRI / 脳 / グリオマ / 非侵襲

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Electrical conductivity　is a property of a material to conduct electric current. Different materials are known to have different electrical conductivity values, ranging from almost zero (insulators) to several million siemens per meter (S/m) (conductors). Living tissues are also reported to have variable electrical conductivity values -- fat and bone have lower values, whereas the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood have higher values. Tumors, especially malignant ones, are reported to have higher values than the normal tissues. This study aimed at the establishment of noninvasive electrical conductivity measurement technique by using MRI and to evaluate the accuracy of this technique.
It was observed that the noninvasive electrical conductivity measurement by MRI was highly repeatable and valid. In addition, the results suggested that information about electrical conductivity can be useful in distinguishing glioblastoma from lower grade gliomas.

Free Research Field

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