A New Method for Analyzing Histograms of Brain Magnetization Transfer Ratios: Comparison with Existing Techniques

Article Figures & Data

Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Fig 1.
Graphical representation of the MTR histogram–derived parameters used in this study.
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Fig 2.
Average MTR histograms from 10 patients with MS (dotted line) and 10 healthy control subjects (solid line) obtained by using the same MR imaging unit.
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Fig 3.
Average MTR histograms from groups B (solid line) and C (dotted line), the two control groups, who were imaged with different MR imaging units.
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Fig 4.
Scatterplot of MTR histogram peak heights indicates the value that best distinguished patients with MS and the control group B.
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Fig 5.
Scatterplot of MTR₂₅ values indicates the value that best distinguished patients from the control group B.
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Fig 6.
Scatterplot of AMTR_2/3 values indicates that AMTR_2/3 was the best parameter for differentiating patients from control subjects.

TABLE 1:

MT MR imaging—derived parameters in subjects imaged with the same imaging system

Parameter	MS Patient Group A (n = 10)		Healthy Control Group B (n = 10)		Relative Difference	P Value
Parameter	Mean ± SD	SD/Mean	Mean ± SD	SD/Mean	Relative Difference	P Value
Global MTR	37.19 ± 1.44	3.87%	38.97 ± 1.07	2.75%	−4.69%	.006
Mean MTR	37.37 ± 1.43	3.83%	39.11 ± 1.04	2.65%	−4.55%	.006
MTR histogram peak height	8.28 ± 0.55	6.64%	8.99 ± 1.03	11.45%	−8.14%	.07
MTR histogram peak position	41.30 ± 1.34	3.24%	42.10 ± 0.88	2.09%	−1.92%	.10
MTR₂₅	34.70 ± 1.64	4.73%	36.90 ± 1.29	3.49%	−6.15%	.004
MTR₅₀	39.60 ± 1.35	3.41%	40.70 ± 1.06	2.60%	−2.74%	.06
MTR₇₅	42.60 ± 1.35	3.17%	43.60 ± 0.97	2.22%	−2.32%	.07
AMTR_2/3	52.23 ± 1.46	2.80%	57.03 ± 2.47	4.33%	−8.79%	<.001
BSMTR_2/3	6.94 ± 0.53	7.64%	6.77 ± 0.86	12.70%	+2.40%	.60

TABLE 2:

MT MR imaging–derived parameters in control subjects imaged with different imaging systems

Parameter	Control Group B (n = 10)		Control Group C (n = 4)		Relative Difference	P Value
Parameter	Mean ± SD	SD/Mean	Mean ± SD	SD/Mean	Relative Difference	P Value
Global MTR	38.97 ± 1.07	2.75%	27.56 ± 0.97	3.53%	34.31%	<.001
Mean MTR	39.11 ± 1.04	2.65%	27.69 ± 0.96	3.45%	34.19%	<.001
MTR histogram peak height	8.99 ± 1.03	11.45%	7.23 ± 0.52	7.17%	21.73%	.007
MTR histogram peak position	42.10 ± 0.88	2.09%	28.75 ± 0.96	3.34%	37.69%	<.001
MTR₂₅	36.90 ± 1.29	3.49%	24.00 ± 1.41	5.89%	42.36%	<.001
MTR₅₀	40.70 ± 1.06	2.60%	28.00 ± 0.82	2.92%	36.97%	<.001
MTR₇₅	43.60 ± 0.97	2.22%	31.75 ± 0.96	3.02%	31.45%	<.001
AMTR_2/3	57.03 ± 2.47	4.33%	59.50 ± 1.55	2.62%	4.25%	.091
BSMTR_2/3	6.77 ± 0.86	12.70%	9.25 ± 0.57	6.16%	30.92%	<.001