About this Research Topic
Quantitative MRI methods provide means to characterize tissue microstructure non-invasively, at length scales much smaller compared to the actual imaging resolution. Prolific research studies in this field, developed since the early days of MRI and NMR, have shown that qMRI methods can provide bulk markers of tissue composition (e.g., T1/T2, mean diffusivity, etc), but also metrics which aim to reflect more specific tissue features, usually derived under various assumptions (e.g., myelin signal fraction, cellular density, microscopic fibre orientation, etc). For this and other reasons, comparison, validation and even integration of qMRI with other imaging modalities is often an essential step.
The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together a collection of studies focused on the multi-modal characterization of tissue microstructure and the much sought-after corroboration of non-invasive qMRI metrics. We would like to present to the qMRI readership the current state-of-the-art of quantitative imaging as well as efforts to integrate its information content of multiple modalities. By focusing on the goal, namely mapping various tissue features, rather than a specific MRI modality, we aim to bring together in the same collection techniques which otherwise would have slightly different audiences. This will increase awareness of a wider range of tools and their ability to provide information about tissue microstructure.
This Research Topic welcomes both original and review articles focused on quantitative MRI techniques in the context of multi-modal characterization of tissue microstructure. Thus, articles should focus on comparing and/or integrating quantitative MRI metrics, with data from other imaging modalities, for instance, microscopy, microCT, etc. Possible applications of the studies include, but are not limited to:
• Mapping cellular sizes (e.g. axon diameter, cell size in tumours, muscle, heart tissue, etc)
• Mapping myelin water fraction and G-ratio
• Mapping fibre orientations
• Mapping cellular density
• Mapping perfusion fraction/vessel density
• Mapping membrane permeability and exchange
• Mapping quasi-CSF fraction (free-water, peri-vascular water)
• Comparisons between normal and diseased tissue
• Metabolites concentration
• Mapping iron content
• MR fingerprinting
Original articles can focus both on the technical development of new methodologies, as well as the application and validation of such techniques.
The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together a collection of studies focused on the multi-modal characterization of tissue microstructure and the much sought-after corroboration of non-invasive qMRI metrics. We would like to present to the qMRI readership the current state-of-the-art of quantitative imaging as well as efforts to integrate its information content of multiple modalities. By focusing on the goal, namely mapping various tissue features, rather than a specific MRI modality, we aim to bring together in the same collection techniques which otherwise would have slightly different audiences. This will increase awareness of a wider range of tools and their ability to provide information about tissue microstructure.
This Research Topic welcomes both original and review articles focused on quantitative MRI techniques in the context of multi-modal characterization of tissue microstructure. Thus, articles should focus on comparing and/or integrating quantitative MRI metrics, with data from other imaging modalities, for instance, microscopy, microCT, etc. Possible applications of the studies include, but are not limited to:
• Mapping cellular sizes (e.g. axon diameter, cell size in tumours, muscle, heart tissue, etc)
• Mapping myelin water fraction and G-ratio
• Mapping fibre orientations
• Mapping cellular density
• Mapping perfusion fraction/vessel density
• Mapping membrane permeability and exchange
• Mapping quasi-CSF fraction (free-water, peri-vascular water)
• Comparisons between normal and diseased tissue
• Metabolites concentration
• Mapping iron content
• MR fingerprinting
Original articles can focus both on the technical development of new methodologies, as well as the application and validation of such techniques.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
