Quantitative T2, T2*, and T2′ MR imaging in patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis might detect microstructural changes and cortical hypoxia

Introduction Quantitative MRI with T2, T2*, and T2′ mapping has been shown to non-invasively depict microstructural changes (T2) and oxygenation status (T2* and T2′) that are invisible on conventional MRI. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether T2 and T2′ quantification detects cerebral (micro-)structural damage and chronic hypoxia in lesions and in normal appearing white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) of patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis (IL). Measurements were complemented by the assessment of the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the degree of GM and WM atrophy.