A quantitative comparison of two methods to correct eddy current-induced distortions in DT-MRI

Eddy current-induced geometric distortions of single-shot, diffusion-weighted, echo-planar (DW-EP) images are a major confounding factor to the accurate determination of water diffusion parameters in diffusion tensor MRI (DT-MRI). Previously, it has been suggested that these geometric distortions can be removed from brain DW-EP images using affine transformations determined from phantom calibration experiments using iterative cross-correlation (ICC). Since this approach was first described, a number of image-based registration methods have become available that can also correct eddy current-induced distortions in DW-EP images. However, as yet no study has investigated whether separate eddy current calibration or image-based registration provides the most accurate way of removing these artefacts from DT-MRI data. Here we compare how ICC phantom calibration and affine FLIRT (http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk), a popular image-based multi-modal registration method that can correct both eddy current-induced distortions and bulk subject motion, perform when registering DW-EP images acquired with different slice thicknesses (2.8 and 5 mm) and b-values (1000 and 3000 s/mm(2)). With the use of consistency testing, it was found that ICC was a more robust algorithm for correcting eddy current-induced distortions than affine FLIRT, especially at high b-value and small slice thickness. In addition, principal component analysis demonstrated that the combination of ICC phantom calibration (to remove eddy current-induced distortions) with rigid body FLIRT (to remove bulk subject motion) provided a more accurate registration of DT-MRI data than that achieved by affine FLIRT.     

Study of mutual information multimodality medical image registration based on modified simplex optimization method

Because of a different imaging mechanism and highly complexity of body tissues and structures. Different modality medical images provide non-overlay complementary information. This has very important significance for multimodal medical image registration. Image registration is the first and key part of problem to be solved in the integrations. When the spatial position of two medical images is same, the registration could be achieved. For two CT and PET images, the principal axis method is adopted to achieve the rough registration. The modified simplex algorithm is employed to implement global search using the mutual information as similarity measure. The initial registration parameters are achieved through principal axis Based on the results of test, improved simplex method can adjust reflecting distance. Stepped-up optimization algorithm on the new experimental points through the methods of “reflection”, “enlargement”, “shrinkage” or “global systolic”. A mutual information registration based on modified simplex optimization method is presented in this paper to improve the speed of medical image registration.Results indicate that the proposed registration method prevents the optimizing process from falling into local extremum and improves the convergence speed while keeping the precision. The accurate registration of multimodal image with different resolutions is achieved.     

On the effects of dephasing due to local gradients in diffusion tensor imaging experiments: relevance for diffusion tensor imaging fiber phantoms

The effect of susceptibility differences between fluid and fibers on the properties of DTI fiber phantoms was investigated. Thereto, machine-made, easily producible and inexpensive DTI fiber phantoms were constructed by winding polyamide fibers of 15 microm diameter around a circular acrylic glass spindle. The achieved fractional anisotropy was 0.78+/-0.02. It is shown by phantom measurements and Monte Carlo simulations that the transversal relaxation time T(2) strongly depends on the angle between the fibers and the B(0) field if the susceptibilities of the fibers and fluid are not identical. In the phantoms, the measured T(2) time at 3 T decreased by 60% for fibers running perpendicular to B(0). Monte Carlo simulations confirmed this result and revealed that the exact relaxation time depends strongly on the exact packing of the fibers. In the phantoms, the measured diffusion was independent of fiber orientation. Monte Carlo simulations revealed that the measured diffusion strongly depends on the exact fiber packing and that field strength and -orientation dependencies of measured diffusion may be minimal for hexagonal packing while the diffusion can be underestimated by more than 50% for cubic packing at 3 T. To overcome these effects, the susceptibilities of fibers and fluid were matched using an aqueous sodium chloride solution (83 g NaCl per kilogram of water). This enables an orientation independent and reliable use of DTI phantoms for evaluation purposes.     

Diffusional kurtosis imaging of cingulate fibers in Parkinson disease: Comparison with conventional diffusion tensor imaging

Objective

The pathological changes in Parkinson disease begin in the brainstem; reach the limbic system and ultimately spread to the cerebral cortex. In Parkinson disease (PD) patients, we evaluated the alteration of cingulate fibers, which comprise part of the limbic system, by using diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI).

Methods

Seventeen patients with PD and 15 age-matched healthy controls underwent DKI with a 3-T MR imager. Diffusion tensor tractography images of the anterior and posterior cingulum were generated. The mean kurtosis (MK) and conventional diffusion tensor parameters measured along the images in the anterior and posterior cingulum were compared between the groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was also performed to compare the diagnostic abilities of the MK and conventional diffusion tensor parameters.

Results

The MK and fractional anisotropy (FA) in the anterior cingulum were significantly lower in PD patients than in healthy controls. The area under the ROC curve was 0.912 for MK and 0.747 for FA in the anterior cingulum. MK in the anterior cingulum had the best diagnostic performance (mean cutoff, 0.967; sensitivity, 0.87; specificity, 0.94).

Conclusions

DKI can detect alterations of the anterior cingulum in PD patients more sensitively than can conventional diffusion tensor imaging. Use of DKI can be expected to improve the ability to diagnose PD.     

Geometric analysis of the b-dependent effects of Rician signal noise on diffusion tensor imaging estimates and determining an optimal b value

The optimal diffusion weighting (DW) factor, b, for use in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies remains uncertain. In this study, the geometric relations of DW quantities are examined, in particular, the effects of Rician noise in the measured magnetic resonance signal. This geometric analysis is used to make theoretical predictions for selecting a b value to reduce the influence of noise. It is shown that the optimal b value for DTI studies in healthy human parenchyma is approximately b=1200 s mm⁻², with a simple relation given as well for a given expected apparent diffusion coefficient. Monte-Carlo simulations on sets of realistic DTI measures are then performed, verifying the optimal DW for minimizing estimate errors. The effects of noise on various DTI parameters such as anisotropy indices (fractional anisotropy and scaled relative anisotropy), mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, eigenvalues and the direction of the first eigenvector are investigated as well.     

核磁共振水分子扩散张量成像中基于广义Fibonacci数列的扩散敏感梯度磁场方向分布方案

为了准确得到人体内水分子各向异性扩散信息,在核磁共振扩散张量成像及高角分辨率扩散成像实验中,需要在众多空间均匀分布的方向上依次施加扩散敏感梯度磁场,测量水分子在不同方向上的扩散系数.目前方向分布方案的缺点有方向数目不连续、均匀性有待提高及部分方向数据的损坏会影响整个数据集等.本文以广义Fibonacci数列为基础,提出新的可以产生连续方向数目的扩散敏感梯度磁场方向分布方案,整个方案的方向均匀性较好,数据集内的部分数据仍然具有很好的空间均匀性,而且本方案中相邻两个扩散敏感梯度磁场方向接近相反,可以减小快速变化的高强度梯度磁场产生的涡流对结果的影响.