Project Details
Projekt
Involvement of the intracranial vessels in systemic diagnostic investigation of vasulitis using MRI
Subject Area
Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Radiobiology
Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
Term
from 2010 to 2019
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 177589302
Inflammatory vessel disease (vasculitis) do not only occur locally but can affect also the complete vasculature. Therefore different vascular territories have to be assessed in detail. So far diagnostic parameters are based on empirical critieria and are strongly user dependent. Diagnostic assurance of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) - the most common vasculitis - is carried out via biopsy. Within the framework of the previous grant a non-invasive and user independent technique for diagnosis and therapy control of GCA via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been developed. In a multi-center study it could be demonstrated, that arterial vessel lumina and vessel walls within the head, thorax and abdomen as well as the extracranial affection pattern can be characterized in a single examination. The intracranial involvement of the most common vasculitis is recently discussed controversially. The diagnosis of intracranial vasculitis is not realized sufficiently with MRI. Because of the peculiarities of the intracranial vasculitis (very small vessels of complex geometry over the whole brain) the previously developed methods for other vessel areas cannot be directly applied. The central goal for this scientific project, which is be based on the previous developments, is therefore the further development and clinical evaluation of a MRI protocol, which enables the complete assessment of intracranial arterial vessel lumina and vessel walls in vasculitis.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
