SC#4 – Pathological SC MR investigations

Research Works

New protocols including anatomical and parametric MRI (morphometry, DTI, MT/ihMT, T1 mapping) are investigated on both high and ultra-high field MR systems in order to better characterize human SC pathologies, in terms of diagnostic, prognostic and evaluation of the potential recovery.

Current investigations more particularly concern degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Recent results demonstrated the added values of ihMTR (inhomogeneous magnetization transfer ratio) in demyelinating pathologies such as MS, strong atrophy (Cross Sectional Area measurements, CSA) in ALS, as well as great potential of MP2RAGE acquisitions in the detection of MS lesion at both 3T and 7T and to characterize diffuse alteration in DCM.

These methodologies also highlighted structural changes in retired rugby players, which have now to be linked to cumulative effects of long-term impacts on the tissues.

Anterior and lateral corticospinal tract impairment revealed by 7T MRI (from Callot et al, Neurology, 2021)

Improved lesion detection in MS using MP2RAGE at 7T (d), as compared to 3T T2* (a) or 3T MP2RAGE (b) (from Testud et al, AJNR 2023)

Close Collaborators – APHM

Pr. PH. Roche (Neurosurgery);
Pr. B. Audoin, Pr. J. Pelletier, Dr. S. Demortière (Neurology);
Dr. A. Verschueren, Pr. S. Attarian, Dr. AM. Grapperon (Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases);
Dr. JB. Grisoli (Sports Medicine)

Acknowledgments : we deeply thank our patients and their family for their participation.

We strongly acknowledge grant supports from Fondation ARSEP (aide à la recherche sur la sclérose en plaques), Fondation de France / Fondation Thierry Latran, Institut CARNOT Star, DOC2AMU and ANR.