Meeting Banner
Abstract #2368

Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) as a Means to Measure Brain Iron? a Postmortem Validation Study

Christian Langkammer1, 2, Ferdinand Schweser3, Nikolaus Krebs2, Andreas Deistung3, Walter Goessler4, Eva Scheurer2, Karsten Sommer3, Gernot Reishofer5, Kathrin Yen6, Franz Fazekas1, Juergen R. Reichenbach3, Stefan Ropele1

1Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; 2Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Graz, Austria; 3Medical Physics Group, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology I, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; 4Institute of Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Austria; 5Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz; 6Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

In this study quantitative susceptibility mapping (qSM) was performed in postmortem brain in situ and correlated with iron concentration as assessed by ICP mass spectroscopy. A strong linear correlation between iron concentration and magnetic susceptibility was found which became significantly weaker when considering white matter only. These results suggest that qSM is a reliable tool to study iron levels in gray matter. Iron mapping in white matter seems to be less reliable unless the magnetic susceptibility of myelin and its orientation is not accounted for.

Abstract PDF

Keywords

abnormally according accounting agreement aims although analytical analyzed appear artifacts assessment attributed basal berg biophysical blue brain brains bright buffered bulk calcium calculating chemical chemistry clinical coefficient concentration concentrations confound considerations considered consistent content contributions correlation coupled currently death deceased deep described determined diagnostic diamonds disease disentangle disorder disorders dissected employed example extend extracted fiber field fixed flash forensic formalin frontal ganglia goal good gradient gray green heme herein hospital hours in vivo included inductively institute interpretation investigate investigating iron known largely linear mapping maps mass measure measured medical metals mismatch mode moderate neurology neutral normalized novel nucleus occipital orientation paramagnetic phys physics plasma position positive postmortem quantitative radiology reconstructed regional regression relation relationship reliable represent representative required resolution scattering sclerosis serve several significantly situ slope specimens spectrometer start strong structures subject subjects submitted susceptibility taken temperature temporal thalamus theoretical tissue twelve unclear underwent unfixed univariate unwrapped variety vessels visible white windowing yielded