Research

The Neuroradiology Division is committed to the development and validation of novel imaging techniques for the diagnosis of conditions of the brain, neck, and spine with the goal of advancing patient care. Several MUSC neuroradiology faculty members have appointments with the MUSC Center for Biomedical Imaging.

In the News

The Telegraph: Humans may need fake gravity to reach Mars without brain damage, warn scientists

NEJM: Effects of Spaceflight on Astronaut Brain Structure as Indicated on MRI

Research Projects

Project Title: Human Cerebral Vascular Autoregulation & Venous Outflow In Response to Microgravity-Induced Cephalad Fluid Redistribution

Aim: This is a NASA sponsored study to investigate brain structural and cerebrovascular autoregulation changes in astronauts following long-term missions aboard the International Space Station.

Project Title: fMRI BOLD Signal as a Biomarker for Optimal Dosing of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke Patients

Aim: Our goal is to use advanced imaging techniques such as functional MRI and image-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate mechanisms for driving cortical plasticity in clinically useful ways.

Project Title: Gadolinium Retention in Human Bone & Brain Tissue in Pediatric Patients

Aim: Our goal is to assess gadolinium deposition in the brain and bone of pediatric patients. Although gadolinium based contrast agents (GBCA) administration to pediatric patients has generally been considered safe due to the relative lack of adverse events in children, there is the concern that long-term retention of gadolinium contrast agents within the body of young patients may lead to unknown consequences.

Project Title: Evaluation of the Diffusion Properties of White Matter in Non-accidental Trauma

Aim: To review the MRI scans of patients who have undergone MRI for the suspected diagnosis of non-accidental trauma. We hypothesize that alteration of the diffusion patterns in the brain will provide insights into the mechanism of injury in cases of shaken baby syndrome.

Project Title: The Correlation of MR Venograms, Catheter Venograms, & Catheter Based Venous Pressure Measurements

Aim: The transverse sinuses are frequently asymmetric and demonstrate filling defects due to arachnoid granulations. Our goal is to assess the clinical significance of these MRV findings using catheter-based venous pressure measurements as the gold standard.

Project Title: Gender Differences in Brain Atrophy Patterns in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment & Alzheimer's Disease

Aim: To investigate gender-specific differences in brain atrophy in amnestic mild cognitive impairment with and without conversion to Alzheimer's disease, with the hypothesis that gender modulates the distribution and rate of brain volume loss.

Project Title: Pediatric CT Protocol Optimization in Neuroradiology

Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate radiation doses and image quality of pediatric neuroradiology CT studies. Our objective is to make recommendations for age-appropriate doses for pediatric neuroradiology CT examinations.

Project Title: Cerebrovascular Perfusion in Sickle Cell Patients

Aim: Our aim is to utilize advanced MR perfusion techniques to assess and quantify alterations in cerebral perfusion in patients with sickle cell disease. The project also entails novel methods of assessing cerebrovascular reserve in this patient cohort.

Recent Publications

Roberts DR, Albrecht MH, Collins HR, Asemani D, Chatterjee AR, Spampinato MV, Zhu X, Chimowitz MI, Antonucci MU. Effects of Spaceflight on Astronaut Brain Structure as Indicated on MRI. N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 2;377(18):1746-1753.

Tipnis S, Thampy R, Rumboldt Z, Spampinato MV, Matheus MG, Huda W. Radiation intensity (CTDIvol) and visibility of anatomical structures in head CT examinations. JACMP (accepted for publication Aug. 2015)

Matheus MG, Lehman R, Bonilha L, Holden K. "Redefining the Pediatric Phenotype of X-Linked Monocarboxylate Transporter 8 (MCT8) Deficiency: Implications for Diagnosis and Therapies." J Child Neurol 2015 Oct;30(12):1664-8. PMID:25900139.

Turan TN, LeMatty T, Martin R. Chimowitz MI, Rumboldt Z, Spampinato MV, Stalcup S, Adams RJ, Brown T. "Characterization of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis using high-resolution MRI study - rationale and design." Brain & Behavior. 25 Sept. 2015.

Pravata E, Tavernier J, Parker R, Vavro H, Mintzer JE, Spampinato MV. The neural correlates of anomia in the conversion from mild congnitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. Neuroradiology, Sept. 23, 2015. PMID: 26400852.

Vaneckova M, Herman M, Smith MP, Mechl M. Maravilla KR, Weichet J, Spampinato MV, Zizka J, Wippold FJ 2nd, Baima JJ, Babbel R, Buitmann E, Huang RY, Buhk JH, Bonafe A, Colosimo C, Lui S, Kirchin MA, Shen N, Pirovano G, Spinazzi A. "The Benefits of High Relaxivity for Brain Tumor Imaging: Results of a Multicenter Intraindividual Crossover Comparison of Gadobenate Dimeglumine with Gadoterate Meglumine (The BENEFIT Study)." AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015 Sep;36 (9):1589-98. PMID:26185325.

Roberts DR, Holden KR. "Progressive Increase of T1 Signal Intensity in the Dentate Nucleus and Globus Pallidus on Unenhanced T1-weighted MR Images in the Pediatric Brain Exposed to Multiple Doses of Gadolinium Contrast." Brain Dev. 2015 Sep 4. pii:S0387-7604(15)00178-3. PMID:26345358.

Roberts DR, Zhu X, Tabesh A, Duffy EW, Ramsey DA, Brown TR. "Structural Brain Changes following Long-term 6 degree Head-down Tilt Bed Rest as an Analog For Spaceflight." AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015 Jul 16: PMID: 26185326.

Spampinato MV, Tipnis S, Travernier J, Huda W. "Thyroid Doses and Risk to Pediatric Patients Undergoing Neck CT Examinations." Eur Radiol. 2015. Jul;25(7):1883-90. pmid:25638220.

Holdsworth SJ, Yeom KW, Antonucci MU, Andre JB, Rosenberg J, Aksoy M, Strraka M, Fischbein NJ, Bammer R, Moseley ME, Zaharchuk G, Skare S. "Diffusion-weighted Imaging with Dual-echo Echo-planar Imaging for Better Sensitivity to Acute Stroke. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2014 Jul; 35(7):1293-302.

Lopez-Cancio E, Matheus MG, Romano JG, Liebeskind DS, Prabhakaran S, Turan TN, Cotsonis GA, Lynn MJ, Rumboldt Z, Chimowitz MI. "Infarct Patterns, Collaterals and Likely Causative Mechanisms of Stroke in Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerosis. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2014; 37(6):417-22.

Huda W, Spampinato MV, Tipnis SV, Magill D. "Computation of Thyroid Doses and Carcinogenic Radiation Risks to Patients Undergoing Neck CT Examinations". Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2013 Oct;156(4):436-44.

Stalcup ST, Tuan AS, Hesselink JR. "Intracranial Causes of Ophthalmoplegia: the Visual Reflex Pathways. Radiographics. 2013 Sep-Oct; 33(5):E153-69.

Antonucci MU, Mocco J, Bennett JA. "New Insight into transient contrast enhancement on computed tomography after endovascular treatment of stroke. Interv Neuroradiol. 2012 Sep;18(3):303-8.

Van Poppel K, Patay Z, Roberts DR, Clarke DF, McGregor A, Perkins FF, Wheless JW. "Mesial Temporal Sclerosis in a Cohort of Children with SCNIA Gene Mutation", Journal of Child Neurology, 2012 Jul 27 (7):893-7

Bishop S, Matheus MG, Abbound MR, Cane ID, Adams RJ, Jackson SM, Kalpatthi R. "Effect of Chronic Transfusion Therapy on Progression of Neurovascular Pathology in pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia. Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2011 Aug 15; 47(2):125-8

Abd-El-Barr MM, Cox JB, Antonucci MU, Bennett J, Murad GJ, Pincus DW. "Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 as an Adjunct for Spine Fusion in a Pediatric Population." Pediatr Neurosurg. 2011; 47(4):266-71.

Spampinato MV, Rumboldt Z, Hosker R, Mintzer J. "Apolipoprotein E and Gray Matter Volume Loss in Mild Congnitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease." Radiology. 2011 Mar; 258(3):843-52.

Bonilha L, Elm JJ, Edwards JC, Morgan PS, Hicks C, Lozar C, Rumboldt Z, Roberts DR, Rorden C, Eckert MA, "How Common is Brain Atrophy in Patients with Medial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy?", Epilepsia. 2010 Sep; 51 (9): 1774-9.

Bohilha L, Edwards JC, Kinsman SL, Morgan PS, Fridriksson J, Rorden C, Rumboldt Z, Roberts DR, Eckert MA, Halford JJ, "Extrahippocampal Gray Matter Loss and Hippocampal Deafferentation in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.", Epilepsia. 2010 Apr; 51(4):519-28.

Eckert MA, Keren NI, Roberts DR, Calhoun VD, Harris KC. "Age-related Changes in Processing Speed: Unique Contributions of Cerebellar and Prefrontal Cortex", Frontiers of Neuroscience, 2010 Mar 8; 4:10.

Roberts, DR, Ramsey D, Johnson K, Koola J, Ricci R, Hicks C, Borckardt JJ, Bloomberg JJ, Epstein C, George MS. "Human Cerebral Cortex Plasticity in Response to Long-term Bedrest as an Analog to Microgravity," Avaition, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 2010 Jan; 81(1):30-40.