Quantitative brain MR imaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Object To evaluate the potential of quantitative MR techniques [voxel-based morphometry (VBM), T2-relaxometry, mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA)] in the diagnostics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Materials and methods Thirty-three ALS patients and thirty age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included in the cross-sectional study. T1WI, T2WI and T2 relaxometry sequences were performed at 1.5T. DWI was performed in a subgroup of 12 patients. Disease severity was estimated with the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALS-FRS). Results We detected decreased T2 relaxation rate (R2) in the frontal white matter (FWM) (left and right P