Relaxation-compensated chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI in the cervical spinal cord at 3T: An application in multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, characterized by demyelination. Exploring pathological changes in the spinal cord could improve our understanding of the mechanisms that cause neurological dysfunction and clinical symptoms; however, conventional MRI is not sensitive to molecular changes within the tissue. Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) can probe tissue biochemistry with high resolution and sensitivity, without exogenous contrasts. However, CEST measurements in vivo are contaminated by concurrent effects including semi-solid magnetization transfer (MT), direct water saturation, and T1-relaxation, which can be altered in MS and need to be removed to accurately quantify changes. Fifty-three people with relapsing-remitting MS

SUBMITTER: Cronin AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12594889 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature