Use of Mean Apparent Propagator (MAP) MRI in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A comparative study with DTI and NODDI

Motivation: Mean Apparent Propagator (MAP) MRI is a time-efficient framework for multi- shell diffusion imaging, but no studies assess MAP measures within infarcted areas of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Goal(s): This study evaluates MAP MRI processing multi-shell diffusion in the AIS population. Approach: 22 AIS patients enrolled from 1/2022 to 4/2024 underwent imaging on a 3.0 Tesla scanner to generate DTI, NODDI, and MAP measures. Results: Spearman correlation revealed RTPP correlated with ICVF, ODI with PA, RTOP with FWF, MD with RTPP, RTOP, and QMSD. Multivariable linear regression identified QMSD SD, thrombectomy status, and infarct volume as predictive of severity based on NIHSS. Impact: This study shows how the time-efficient MAP MRI has potential for clinical use in patients with AIS. RTPP, PA, and RTOP MAP measures were closely related with ICVF, OCI, FWF NODDI measures, and could serve as equivalent measures.