3T MRI-Based Regional Mapping of Magnetization Transfer Ratio in Normal Brain Tissue: A Study of White and Grey Matter Differences

Authors : Eyüp Kaya, Elif Hocaoğlu, Ercan İnci, Veysel Kaya, Mehmet Tahtabaşı, Tanju Kısbet, Eyup Camurcuoglu

Pages : 388-398

Doi:10.35440/hutfd.1689766

View : 25 | Download : 23

Publication Date : 2025-06-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Background: This study aimed to establish normal regional Magnetization Transfer Ratio (MTR) values in white and grey matter using 3-Tesla MRI in healthy adult subjects, with a particular focus on cortical and deep brain structures. It also aims to assess the variability of these values and provide a baseline for further pathological studies. Materials and Methods: Seventy healthy volunteers (28 females, 42 males, mean age 28 years) were included. MRI scans were performed using a 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner. Conventional cranial MRI sequences were acquired, followed by Magnetization Transfer Imaging (MTI) with off-resonance pulses. MTR maps were generated from proton density-weighted images obtained with and without magnetization transfer pre-pulses. Measurements were performed in 31 white matter and 9 grey matter regions, with additional assessments of CSF for noise control. Statistical analysis was carried out to compare MTR values across different brain regions. Results: The mean MTR value was significantly higher in white matter (23.9 ± 0.21) compared to grey matter (17.3 ± 0.77). The corpus callosum had the highest MTR values within the white matter, particularly in the splenium, while the thalamus exhibited the highest MTR values in the grey matter. Regional variations were observed, with higher MTR values in the occipital and temporal lobes and lower values in the frontal and parietal lobes. MTR measurements showed excellent intra-observer (ICC > 0.9) and good inter-observer reliability (ICC 0.80–0.90). Conclusions: This study provides detailed MTR mapping of normal brain tissue, highlighting significant regional dif-ferences between white and grey matter. The findings offer valuable baseline data for assessing structural changes in CNS diseases and for evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. MTR measurements demonstrate high reproducibility, making this technique a reliable tool in clinical and research applications for monitoring pathological alterations in the central nervous system.
Keywords : Manyetizasyon Transfer Oranı, MTR, 3.0 Tesla, Manyetizasyon Transfer Görüntüleme, beyin.

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