Quantitative and Computational Spinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Conditions and Acquired Spinal Disorders: Academic Advances and Clinical Prospects
<b>Introduction:</b> Quantitative spinal cord imaging has facilitated the objective appraisal of spinal cord pathology in a range of neurological conditions both in the academic and clinical setting. Diverse methodological approaches have been implemented, encompassing a range of morphom...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Mary Clare McKenna Jana Kleinerova Alan Power Angela Garcia-Gallardo Ee Ling Tan Peter Bede |
| author_facet | Mary Clare McKenna Jana Kleinerova Alan Power Angela Garcia-Gallardo Ee Ling Tan Peter Bede |
| author_sort | Mary Clare McKenna |
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| description | <b>Introduction:</b> Quantitative spinal cord imaging has facilitated the objective appraisal of spinal cord pathology in a range of neurological conditions both in the academic and clinical setting. Diverse methodological approaches have been implemented, encompassing a range of morphometric, diffusivity, susceptibility, magnetization transfer, and spectroscopy techniques. Advances have been fueled both by new MRI platforms and acquisition protocols as well as novel analysis pipelines. The quantitative evaluation of specific spinal tracts and grey matter indices has the potential to be used in diagnostic and monitoring applications. The comprehensive characterization of spinal disease burden in pre-symptomatic cohorts, in carriers of specific genetic mutations, and in conditions primarily associated with cerebral disease, has contributed important academic insights. <b>Methods:</b> A narrative review was conducted to examine the clinical and academic role of quantitative spinal cord imaging in a range of neurodegenerative and acquired spinal cord disorders, including hereditary spastic paraparesis, hereditary ataxias, motor neuron diseases, Huntington’s disease, and post-infectious or vascular disorders. Results: The clinical utility of specific methods, sample size considerations, academic role of spinal imaging, key radiological findings, and relevant clinical correlates are presented in each disease group. <b>Conclusions:</b> Quantitative spinal cord imaging studies have demonstrated the feasibility to reliably appraise structural, microstructural, diffusivity, and metabolic spinal cord alterations. Despite the notable academic advances, novel acquisition protocols and analysis pipelines are yet to be implemented in the clinical setting. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c961f6c78e354d998ca2b13bc0744e30 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c961f6c78e354d998ca2b13bc0744e302025-08-20T02:28:11ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372024-11-01131190910.3390/biology13110909Quantitative and Computational Spinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Conditions and Acquired Spinal Disorders: Academic Advances and Clinical ProspectsMary Clare McKenna0Jana Kleinerova1Alan Power2Angela Garcia-Gallardo3Ee Ling Tan4Peter Bede5Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, 2 D02 R590 Dublin, IrelandComputational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, 2 D02 R590 Dublin, IrelandComputational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, 2 D02 R590 Dublin, IrelandComputational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, 2 D02 R590 Dublin, IrelandComputational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, 2 D02 R590 Dublin, IrelandComputational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, 2 D02 R590 Dublin, Ireland<b>Introduction:</b> Quantitative spinal cord imaging has facilitated the objective appraisal of spinal cord pathology in a range of neurological conditions both in the academic and clinical setting. Diverse methodological approaches have been implemented, encompassing a range of morphometric, diffusivity, susceptibility, magnetization transfer, and spectroscopy techniques. Advances have been fueled both by new MRI platforms and acquisition protocols as well as novel analysis pipelines. The quantitative evaluation of specific spinal tracts and grey matter indices has the potential to be used in diagnostic and monitoring applications. The comprehensive characterization of spinal disease burden in pre-symptomatic cohorts, in carriers of specific genetic mutations, and in conditions primarily associated with cerebral disease, has contributed important academic insights. <b>Methods:</b> A narrative review was conducted to examine the clinical and academic role of quantitative spinal cord imaging in a range of neurodegenerative and acquired spinal cord disorders, including hereditary spastic paraparesis, hereditary ataxias, motor neuron diseases, Huntington’s disease, and post-infectious or vascular disorders. Results: The clinical utility of specific methods, sample size considerations, academic role of spinal imaging, key radiological findings, and relevant clinical correlates are presented in each disease group. <b>Conclusions:</b> Quantitative spinal cord imaging studies have demonstrated the feasibility to reliably appraise structural, microstructural, diffusivity, and metabolic spinal cord alterations. Despite the notable academic advances, novel acquisition protocols and analysis pipelines are yet to be implemented in the clinical setting.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/11/909spinal cordMRIbiomarkerradiologyneurodegenerative conditionsALS |
| spellingShingle | Mary Clare McKenna Jana Kleinerova Alan Power Angela Garcia-Gallardo Ee Ling Tan Peter Bede Quantitative and Computational Spinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Conditions and Acquired Spinal Disorders: Academic Advances and Clinical Prospects Biology spinal cord MRI biomarker radiology neurodegenerative conditions ALS |
| title | Quantitative and Computational Spinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Conditions and Acquired Spinal Disorders: Academic Advances and Clinical Prospects |
| title_full | Quantitative and Computational Spinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Conditions and Acquired Spinal Disorders: Academic Advances and Clinical Prospects |
| title_fullStr | Quantitative and Computational Spinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Conditions and Acquired Spinal Disorders: Academic Advances and Clinical Prospects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantitative and Computational Spinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Conditions and Acquired Spinal Disorders: Academic Advances and Clinical Prospects |
| title_short | Quantitative and Computational Spinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Conditions and Acquired Spinal Disorders: Academic Advances and Clinical Prospects |
| title_sort | quantitative and computational spinal imaging in neurodegenerative conditions and acquired spinal disorders academic advances and clinical prospects |
| topic | spinal cord MRI biomarker radiology neurodegenerative conditions ALS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/11/909 |
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