<I>In vivo</I> mapping of hippocampal venous vasculature and oxygen saturation using dual-echo SWI/QSM at 7 T: a potential marker for neurodegeneration

Background: The current understanding of the venous system in hippocampus is mostly based on histological and autopsy studies.1 However, main disadvantage that it only reveals anatomy vascular at post-mortem stage lacks physiological aspects associated with neuronal metabolism. In vivo characterization using susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) 7 T could provide valuable information both blood oxygen saturation, through high-resolution SWI venography2 quantitative mapping (QSM).3 this study, we aim to elucidate hierarchical network hippocampal then test feasibility characterize oxygenation level changes related neurodegeneration.
 Methods: Seven healthy volunteers were recruited for study. We used high in-plane resolution flow-compensated dual-echo gradient echo sequence (TE1/TE2/TR=7.5/15/22 ms, voxel size: 0.25*0.25*1 mm). QSM reconstructed iterative (iterative SWIM) algorithm,3 as shown Figure 1. Hippocampus masks extracted from T1-MPRAGE image, which was transformed space afterwards. To reduce partial volume effect tissue-vessel boundary, extract value each along centerline vessels.
 Results: High-resolution vasculature exhibits a analogy Duvernoy’s reference4 vascularization. As 1, there shape arch near fimbria hippocampus, small veins extending are possibly intrahippocampal veins. will eventually reach inferior ventricular vein (IVV) (anteriorly) medial atrial (MAV) (posteriorly), before joining basal Rosenthal (BVR). For quantification, 1 shows representative color-coded extraction BVR.
 Conclusions: Our results showed improved visualization micro data without contrast agent.5 summary, major tributaries offers novel perspective utilization may be useful studying age-related dementia. delineated SWI/QSM density hippocampus-related tributaries, an overall measure early marker atrophy Alzheimer’s disease.