Quantitative analysis of neck muscle MR T2 relaxation times in migraine and cervical dystonia

MRI T2 relaxation time (T2 time) is a radiological technique that provides a quantitative value of muscle relaxation. In muscles which are hyperactive, T2 times increase. In this research, we reported normative T2 times in five major neck muscles. We then analysed the same muscles in cervical dystonia and in chronic migraine subjects with/without neck pain and found that neck muscle T2 times were elevated. T2 time is a novel approach to analyse hyperactive neck muscles and is non-invasive and quantitative. In future, it may serve as a diagnostic aid in different pathologies which implicate neck muscles.