JBM Warntjes1,
Mathias Engstrm1, 2, A Tisell1, 3,
I. Blystad1, 2, A-M Landtblom1, 4,
P. Lundberg1, 3
1Center
for Medical Imaging Science and Visualization, Linkping, Sweden; 2Department
of Medical and Health Sciences, Radiology, Linkping, Sweden; 3Department
of Medical and Health Sciences, radiation Physics, Linkping, Sweden; 4Department
of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology, Linkping, Sweden
Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging maps of the R1 and R2 relaxation and Proton Density were normalized to a standard brain template and averaged to generate a reference brain for a complete group. The method allows the quantification of common, diffuse differences in the brain, whereas individual, focal lesions are suppressed. The method was applied to 20 patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and 20 age- and gender matched healthy subjects. Significantly lower R1 and R2 and higher PD values were observed throughout the periventricular white matter and centrum semi-ovale.