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A standardised method for measuring magnetisation transfer ratio on MR imagers from different manufacturers—the EuroMT sequence

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Abstract.

Magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) is increasingly used to evaluate neurological disorders, especially those involving demyelination. It shows promise as a surrogate marker of disease progression in treatment trials in multiple sclerosis (MS) but the value measured is highly dependant on pulse sequence parameters, making it hard to include the technique in large multi-centre clinical trials. The variations can be reduced by a normalisation procedure based on the flip angle and timing of the presaturation pulse, but correction for parameters such as saturation pulse shape, amplitude, duration and offset frequency remains problematic. We have defined a standard pulse sequence, to include a standard presaturation pulse and set of parameters, which can be implemented on scanners from both General Electric and Siemens, and has also been used on Phillips scanners. To validate the sequence and parameters, six European centres measured MTR in the frontal white matter of normal volunteers. It was possible to measure MTR values in controls which were consistent to within approximately ±2.5 percentage units across sites. This degree of precision may be adequate in many situations. The remaining differences between sites and manufacturers are probably caused by B1 errors.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. A. Gass

    Present address: Departments of Neurology/Neuroradiology, Universitätskliniken, Kantonsspital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

  2. J. P. Ranjeva

    Present address: CRMBM–Faculté de Médecine, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France

  3. G. J. Barker

    Present address: Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, box 089, London, SE5 8AF, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neurology, University College, London, WC1N 3BG, UK

    G. J. Barker & P. S. Tofts

  2. Department of Radiology, Section for Medical Physics, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55128, Mainz, Germany

    W. G. Schreiber

  3. NMR Research Neurology, Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany

    A. Gass

  4. Department of Neuroradiology, Purpan University Hospital, Toulouse, France

    J. P. Ranjeva

  5. Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, Zurich, 8091, Switzerland

    A. Campi

  6. Vrij Universiteit Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081, HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. H. T. M. van Waesberghe

  7. Laboratoire de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques, UMR 5536 CNRS/Université Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Léo saignat, 33076, Bordeaux cedex, France

    J.-M. Franconi

  8. Medical Statistics Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK

    H. C. Watt

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  1. G. J. Barker
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  2. W. G. Schreiber
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  5. A. Campi
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  7. J.-M. Franconi
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  9. P. S. Tofts
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. S. Tofts.

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Barker, G., Schreiber, W., Gass, A. et al. A standardised method for measuring magnetisation transfer ratio on MR imagers from different manufacturers—the EuroMT sequence. MAGMA 18, 76–80 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-004-0095-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-004-0095-z

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