Microstructural parameter estimation in vivo using diffusion MRI and structured prior information.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Diffusion MRI has recently been used with detailed models to probe tissue microstructure. Much of this work has been performed ex vivo with powerful scanner hardware, to gain sensitivity to parameters such as axon radius. By contrast, performing microstructure imaging on clinical scanners is extremely challenging.

Methods

We use an optimized dual spin-echo diffusion protocol, and a Bayesian fitting approach, to obtain reproducible contrast (histogram overlap of up to 92%) in estimated maps of axon radius index in healthy adults at a modest, widely-available gradient strength (35 mT m(-1)). A key innovation is the use of influential priors.

Results

We demonstrate that our priors can improve precision in axon radius estimates--a 7-fold reduction in voxelwise coe

SUBMITTER: Clayden JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4791093 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature