Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI): Technical Aspects and Applications in Brain MRI for Neurodegenerative Disorders
Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence sensitive to substances that alter the local magnetic field, such as calcium and iron, allowing phase information to distinguish between them. SWI is a 3D gradient–echo sequence with high spatial resolution that lev...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Federica Vaccarino Carlo Cosimo Quattrocchi Marco Parillo |
| author_facet | Federica Vaccarino Carlo Cosimo Quattrocchi Marco Parillo |
| author_sort | Federica Vaccarino |
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| description | Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence sensitive to substances that alter the local magnetic field, such as calcium and iron, allowing phase information to distinguish between them. SWI is a 3D gradient–echo sequence with high spatial resolution that leverages both phase and magnitude effects. The interaction of paramagnetic (such as hemosiderin and deoxyhemoglobin), diamagnetic (including calcifications and minerals), and ferromagnetic substances with the local magnetic field distorts it, leading to signal changes. Neurodegenerative diseases are typically characterized by the progressive loss of neurons and their supporting cells within the neurovascular unit. This cellular decline is associated with a corresponding deterioration of both cognitive and motor abilities. Many neurodegenerative disorders are associated with increased iron accumulation or microhemorrhages in various brain regions, making SWI a valuable diagnostic tool in clinical practice. Suggestive SWI findings are known in Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, atypical parkinsonian syndromes, multiple sclerosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hereditary ataxias, Huntington’s disease, neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This review will assist radiologists in understanding the technical framework of SWI sequences for a correct interpretation of currently established MRI findings and for its potential future clinical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a6983a4449744f39bee2e31dba8e9168 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a6983a4449744f39bee2e31dba8e91682025-08-20T03:47:50ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542025-04-0112547310.3390/bioengineering12050473Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI): Technical Aspects and Applications in Brain MRI for Neurodegenerative DisordersFederica Vaccarino0Carlo Cosimo Quattrocchi1Marco Parillo2Radiology, Multizonal Unit of Rovereto and Arco, APSS Provincia Autonoma Di Trento, 38123 Trento, ItalyRadiology, Multizonal Unit of Rovereto and Arco, APSS Provincia Autonoma Di Trento, 38123 Trento, ItalyRadiology, Multizonal Unit of Rovereto and Arco, APSS Provincia Autonoma Di Trento, 38123 Trento, ItalySusceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence sensitive to substances that alter the local magnetic field, such as calcium and iron, allowing phase information to distinguish between them. SWI is a 3D gradient–echo sequence with high spatial resolution that leverages both phase and magnitude effects. The interaction of paramagnetic (such as hemosiderin and deoxyhemoglobin), diamagnetic (including calcifications and minerals), and ferromagnetic substances with the local magnetic field distorts it, leading to signal changes. Neurodegenerative diseases are typically characterized by the progressive loss of neurons and their supporting cells within the neurovascular unit. This cellular decline is associated with a corresponding deterioration of both cognitive and motor abilities. Many neurodegenerative disorders are associated with increased iron accumulation or microhemorrhages in various brain regions, making SWI a valuable diagnostic tool in clinical practice. Suggestive SWI findings are known in Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, atypical parkinsonian syndromes, multiple sclerosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hereditary ataxias, Huntington’s disease, neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This review will assist radiologists in understanding the technical framework of SWI sequences for a correct interpretation of currently established MRI findings and for its potential future clinical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/5/473radiologyneurologysusceptibility-weighted imagingquantitative susceptibility mappingmagnetic resonance imagingbrain diseases |
| spellingShingle | Federica Vaccarino Carlo Cosimo Quattrocchi Marco Parillo Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI): Technical Aspects and Applications in Brain MRI for Neurodegenerative Disorders Bioengineering radiology neurology susceptibility-weighted imaging quantitative susceptibility mapping magnetic resonance imaging brain diseases |
| title | Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI): Technical Aspects and Applications in Brain MRI for Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_full | Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI): Technical Aspects and Applications in Brain MRI for Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_fullStr | Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI): Technical Aspects and Applications in Brain MRI for Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI): Technical Aspects and Applications in Brain MRI for Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_short | Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI): Technical Aspects and Applications in Brain MRI for Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| title_sort | susceptibility weighted imaging swi technical aspects and applications in brain mri for neurodegenerative disorders |
| topic | radiology neurology susceptibility-weighted imaging quantitative susceptibility mapping magnetic resonance imaging brain diseases |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/5/473 |
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