Prospective longitudinal cohort study of quantitative muscle magnetic resonance imaging in a healthy control population

• DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5214
• Publication Date: 2024-07-10T07:20:06Z
• Authors: Johannes Forsting; Robert Rehmann; Marlena Rohm; Abdulhadi Kocabas; Alice De Lorenzo; Anne‐Katrin Gütts...; Matthias Vorgerd; Martijn Froeling; Lara Schlaffke
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine

Abstract Quantitative muscle magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) is a valuable methodology for assessing muscular injuries and neuromuscular disorders. Notably, diffusion tensor (DTI) gives insights into microstructural macrostructural characteristics. However, the long‐term reproducibility robustness of these measurements remain relatively unexplored. The purpose this prospective longitudinal cohort study was to assess range variation qMRI parameters, especially DTI metrics, in lower extremity muscles healthy controls under real‐life conditions. Twelve volunteers (seven females, age 44.1 ± 12.1 years, body mass index 23.3 2.0 kg/m 2 ) underwent five leg MRI sessions every 20 4 weeks over total period 1.5 years. A multiecho gradient‐echo Dixon‐based sequence, spin‐echo T2‐mapping echo planar diffusion‐weighted sequence were acquired bilaterally with Philips 3‐T Achieva MR System using 16‐channel torso coil. Fifteen segmented both extremities. including fat fraction (FF), water T2 relaxation time, metrics fractional anisotropy (FA) mean diffusivity (MD), evaluated. Coefficients variance (wsCV) intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) calculated parameters. standard error measurement (SEM) minimal detectable change (MDC) determine variation. All tests applied all and, subsequently, each separately. wsCV showed good (≤ 10%) parameters muscles. ICCs revealed excellent agreement between time points (FF = 0.980, 0.941, FA 0.952, MD 0.948). Random errors assessed by SEM MDC low (< 12%). In conclusion, study, we that living normal lives are stable 18 months, thereby defining benchmark expected time.