Introduction: q-Space imaging is a novel magnetic resonance (MR) technique that enables the assessment of ultrastructural changes of white matter. We hypothesized that this technique would facilitate the assessment of the progressive nature of neuronal damage seen in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).
Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board. Seven consecutive adult patients (five men and two women) with the CADASIL gene mutation were studied. Two patients were preclinical cases without overt episodes of stroke. The control group consisted of five normal volunteers. All MR examinations were performed using a 1.5-T whole-body imager. q-Space imaging was performed using a single-shot, echo-planar imaging technique and Δ/δ = 142/17 ms. Gradient magnitudes were increased in nine steps to reach a maximal b value of 10,000 s/mm². Total acquisition time of q-space imaging was 25 min. The ADC maps calculated from the b = 1,000 images were used for comparisons.
Results: Both q-space imaging and ADC maps depicted progressive neuronal damage. Early neuronal damage was especially well depicted using q-space imaging, with preferential involvement of the frontal lobes and central gray matters. Later progression was better depicted by b = 1,000 ADC maps at the temporal lobes. Visual assessment of images revealed a trend for occipital lobe sparing, especially on q-space imaging.
Conclusion: q-Space imaging demonstrated early neuronal damage in a characteristic distribution. Since this method appears to be sensitive to early neuronal damage, it could conceivably aid in monitoring patients in the preclinical stage and may help in assessing the effects of future medical interventions.