Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the nervous system in small animals - evaluation of sequences and protocol recommendations

• Grant number: 10/19257-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: April 01, 2011
• End date: January 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina Brandão de Campos Fonseca Pinto
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Brandão de Campos Fonseca Pinto
• Host Investigator: Silke Hecht
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Tennessee (UT), United States

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard in the evaluation of the nervous system in humans and is increasingly utilized in veterinary medicine. Continued technological improvements have resulted in the addition of multiple new and advanced imaging sequences (e.g. gradient echo sequences, inversion recovery sequences, diffusion and perfusion weighted imaging, magnetic resonance angiography) to traditionally used spin echo sequences (T1-W, T2-W and PD-W). To minimize overall examination time attempts have been made in human medicine to develop MRI protocols with a limited number of specific sequences most likely to yield a diagnosis for a given clinical patient. Similar protocols have not been established in veterinary medicine but would be desirable. In the frame of this project MRI examinations of brain and spine in dogs and cats presented to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine will be reviewed. Information gained with individual sequences and duration of image acquisition will be tabulated in order to establish examination protocols which would allow a maximum information gain while minimizing time needed for the examination. (AU)