Post mortem brain temperature and its influence on quantitative MRI of the brain

This study aims at computing brain temperature effects on the MRI parameters to correct for temperature in PMMRI, laying the foundation for future projects on post mortem validation of in vivo MRI techniques.Materials and methodsBrain MRI parameters were assessed in vivo and in situ post mortem using a 3  T MRI scanner. Post mortem brain temperature was measured in situ transethmoidally. The temperature effect was computed by fitting a linear model to the MRI parameters and the corresponding brain temperature.ResultsLinear positive temperature correlations were observed forT1,T2* and mean diffusivity in all tissue types. A significant negative correlation was observed forT2 in white matter. Fractional anisotropy revealed significant correlations in all gray matter regions except for the thalamus.DiscussionThe linear models will allow to correct for temperature in post mortem MRI. Comparing in vivo to post mortem conditions, the mean diffusivity, in contrast toT1 andT2, revealed additional effects besides temperature, such as cessation of perfusion and active diffusion.
Source: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine - Category: Materials Science Source Type: research