Advanced neuroimaging techniques in the clinical routine: A comprehensive MRI case study

Abstract

Neuroimaging with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most useful tools available to study the human brain in vivo. Several techniques provide insights into the human brain's structure, function, and connectivity. The aim of this study is to showcase the feasibility of employing advanced neuroimaging techniques within the clinical routine in a patient with a neurological disorder. An 83 years-old male patient with right motor aphasia and somatosensory impairment underwent a clinical and advanced neuroimaging MRI protocol with 3D-T1, FLAIR, diffusion-weighted and tensor imaging, and resting state functional MRI. Advanced neuroimaging post-processing was employed to perform cortical and subcortical brain segmentation, white matter fibers tractography, and functional connectivity (FC). These analyses revealed an impairment of the left posterior insular cortex that showed low cortical grey matter volume, high restriction in diffusivity maps, and an increased FC as a compensation mechanism. The results pointed towards a left insular cortex stroke and the patient was then admitted to neurology for hospitalization. This amalgamation of cutting-edge technology with clinical practice underscores the pivotal role of neuroimaging in the contemporary management of neurological disorders, heralding a new era of precision medicine tailored to individual patient profiles.