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Abstract #1306

Multi-Exponential Analysis of T2 Relaxation in the Human Spinal Cord: Differences Between Grey and White Matter

Nicole Fichtner1, Erin L. MacMillan2, B Mdler3, A Curt4,5, D K. Li6, M F. Dvorak5,7, Alex L. MacKay1,6

1Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 2Dept. of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; 3Philips Healthcare, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 4Dept. of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 5International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 6Dept. of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 7Dept. of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada


In order to determine optimum parameters for contrast differentiation, it is necessary to know the T2 relaxation characteristics of each tissue, which may have multiple values. Multi-echo T2 relaxation is sensitive to the different pools of water in central nervous system tissue. We examined the cervical cord region of 12 healthy controls using a 3D multi-echo T2 measurement. This study showed for the first time that the average T2 was significantly different between grey and white matter in healthy human spinal cord in vivo.