Time-resolved and high-resolution MRA in a rabbit model of pulmonary embolism at 7 T: preliminary results

Purpose

Evaluate feasibility of using time-resolved and high-resolution, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at 7 T for characterization of an animal model of pulmonary embolism.

Methods

MRAs were performed in five rabbits using a 7-T MR scanner. Preceding the MR studies, each rabbit underwent a pulmonary artery catheterization with balloon placement. Two doses of gadodiamide were injected: first during a time-resolved MRA, immediately followed by a high-resolution acquisition. Balloon was then deflated, permitting reperfusion for 5 min. A second dose was then injected and another high-resolution MRA acquired. Measurements of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and vessel cross-sections down to fourth-order branches were made, among other parameters.

Results

Occlusion was detected in all rabbits. Despite a TE of 0.58 ms for the time-resolved MRA, regions of nonuniform enhancement attributed to susceptibility effects at the 7-T field were observed in perfused lung. Mean SNR=7.5±3.3 and 134.2±46.5 for the lung and aorta, respectively, and mean CNR=126.7±46.4 for aorta versus lung were obtained. Diameters of vessels in lung that was never occluded were not statistically different from those in reperfused lung.

Conclusion

Results show that time-resolved and high-resolution MRA of the lung are feasible at 7 T and provide high SNR, CNR and resolution, but TEs smaller than 0.58 ms are required to avoid susceptibility artifacts in time-resolved MRAs.     

Self-navigated 3D whole-heart MRA for non-enhanced surveillance of thoracic aortic dilation: A comparison to CTA

PurposeTo prospectively compare image quality and reliability of a non-contrast, self-navigated 3D whole-heart magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) sequence with contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography (CTA) for sizing of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA).MethodsSelf-navigated 3D whole-heart 1.5 T MRA was performed in 20 patients (aged 67 ± 9 years, 75% male) for sizing of TAA; a subgroup of 18 (90%) patients underwent additional contrast-enhanced CTA on the same day. Subjective image quality was scored according to a 4-point Likert scale and ratings between observers were compared by Cohen's Kappa statistics. For MRA, subjective motion blurring and signal inhomogeneity was rated according to a 3-point scale, respectively. Objective signal inhomogeneity of MRA was quantified as standard deviation of the voxel intensities in a circular region of interest (ROI) placed in the ascending aorta divided by their mean value. Continuous MRA and CTA measurements were analyzed with regression and Bland-Altman analysis.ResultsOverall subjective image quality as rated by two observers was 1 [interquartile range (IQR) 1–2] for self-navigated MRA and 1.5 [IQR 1–2] for CTA (p = 0.717). For MRA, perfect inter-observer agreement was found regarding presence of artefacts and subjective image sharpness (κ = 1). Subjective signal inhomogeneity agreed moderately between the observers (κ = 0.58, p = 0.007), however, it correlated strongly with objectively quantified inhomogeneity of the blood pool signal (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001). Maximum diameters of TAA as measured by self-navigated MRA and CTA showed very strong correlation (r = 0.99, p < 0.0001) without significant inter-method bias (bias −0.03 mm, lower and upper limit of agreement −0.74 and 0.68 mm, p = 0.749). Inter-observer correlation of aortic aneurysm as measured by MRA was very strong (r = 0.96) without significant bias (p = 0.695).ConclusionSelf-navigated 3D whole-heart MRA enables reliable contrast- and radiation free aortic dilation surveillance without significant difference to standardized CTA while providing predictable acquisition time and offering excellent image quality.     

Free-breathing 3-dimensional steady-state free precession coronary magnetic resonance angiography: comparison of four navigator gating techniques

This work compared the performance of four navigator gating algorithms [accept/reject (A/R), diminishing variance algorithm (DVA), phase ordering with automatic window selection (PAWS) and retrospective gating (RETRO)] in suppressing respiratory motion artifacts in free-breathing 3D balanced steady-state free precession coronary MRA. In 10 volunteers, the right coronary artery (RCA) or the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was imaged (both if time permitted) at 1.5 T with the four gating techniques in random order. Vessel signal, vessel contrast and motion suppression were scored by the consensus of two blinded readers. In 15 imaged vessels (nine RCA and six LAD), PAWS provided significantly better image quality than A/R (P<.05), DVA (P=.02) and RETRO (P=.002). While the quality difference between A/R and DVA was not statistically significant, both algorithms yielded significantly better image quality than RETRO. PAWS and DVA were the most efficient algorithms, providing an approximately 20% and 40% relative increase in average navigator efficiency compared to A/R and RETRO, respectively.     

Scan optimization of gadolinium contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MRA of peripheral arteries with multiple bolus injections and in vitro validation of stenosis quantification

In this study, a T₁-weighted three-dimensional (3D) spoiled gradient-echo scanning protocol was developed to image the complete arterial system of the pelvis and both legs along their entire length in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Three adjacent stations were to be acquired consecutively, with some overlap, to image the entire area of interest; per station one gadolinium (Gd) contrast bolus would be administered. In an in vitro phantom study, the scanning protocol was optimized. The optimal flip angle was found to be 50°. Also, the optimal scan delay was chosen to be equal to the arrival time of the contrast bolus, thereby minimizing artifacts. Three contrast bolus injections showed sufficient enhancement of the vessels after image subtraction. Finally, stenosis quantification by manual caliper was performed by five observers in the magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images and correlated with the percent diameter reduction determined by quantitative angiography from corresponding X-ray images. The MRA measurements were reproducible, and intra- and interobserver variabilities were statistically non-significant (p = 0.54 and p = 0.12, respectively). Stenosis quantification performed by four observers showed a good correlation with the X-ray-derived values (r_P > 0.90, p < 0.02); the results from one observer were not significantly correlated. Five patients with proven peripheral disease were investigated with this new MRA scanning protocol, using standard hardware and software. The images were of good quality, which allowed adequate clinical evaluation; the original diagnoses obtained from X-ray examinations, were confirmed with MRA. In conclusion, peripheral arterial disease can be evaluated adequately with this magnetic resonance scanning protocol.     

Assessment of the anomalous pulmonary circulation by dynamic contrast-enhanced MR angiography in under four seconds

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the initial results of the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA in under four seconds in the assessment of anomalous pulmonary circulation. We performed dynamic contrast enhanced MRA on ten patients with a temporal resolution of 2-3 sec for each phase. Five patients had pulmonary vascular anomaly and five patients had reconstructed pulmonary circulation. On nine patients catheter angiography was performed for the correlation. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA successfully demonstrated congenital pulmonary vascular anomalies and the pathway of anomalous pulmonary circulation in our series. With the improved temporal and spatial resolution, the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA can be used in children and infants for the assessment of congenital vascular disease.     

Post-processing central k-space subtraction for high-resolution arterial peripheral MR angiography

Peripheral MR angiography requires high resolution and arterial contrast. Neither can be obtained simultaneously due to the short arterial phase of the contrast agent. To improve temporal resolution, keyhole imaging was developed, which combines high resolution and arterial k-spaces at the time of image acquisition. Here, a related approach is introduced for image post-processing in the Fourier domain. It is demonstrated that simple substitution of the central k-space with low-resolution data leads to severe distortion. Hence, a dedicated calculation scheme is necessary for composite k-space post-processing. A solution is presented for high-resolution arterial peripheral MR angiography that uses subtraction of venous intensities from the central high-resolution k-space. The calculations in the Fourier domain do not require interpolations between the different resolutions. High-resolution steady-state MR angiography, which exhibits contrast-enhanced arteries and veins at an isotropic resolution of 0.65 mm, and standard resolution arterial first-pass MR angiography were combined to obtain images with the resolution of the steady-state images and arterial contrast. Numerical simulations on software phantoms are presented. The operation of the method is demonstrated in five patients.     

Multiple contrast fast spin-echo approach to black-blood intracranial MRA: use of complementary and supplementary information.

Black-blood magnetic resonance angiography (black-blood MRA) could be considered an alternative to time-of-flight (TOF) MRA. In the cases of irregular flow conditions, it could be more advantageous than time-of-flight (TOF) MRA in providing vessel definition and delineation. Proton-density weighted (PDW) multi-slab three-dimensional fast spin-echo (3DFSE) sequences have been used to generate black-blood MRA. Unfortunately, multi-planar reformatted 3DFSE images often exhibit slab boundary artifacts (intensity variation in the slice direction) which create dark bands interfering with the identification of dark blood vessels. Furthermore, PDW measurements fail to darken slow flowing or re-circulating blood in some circumstances. In this work, a dual-contrast multi-slab 3DFSE acquisition is used to approach black-blood MRA. This sequence simultaneously provides proton-density weighted (PDW) and T(2)-weighted (T2W) images which can be further integrated together to produce black-blood angiograms gained by utilizing complementary contrast and supplementary vascular information. Additionally, a technique of suppressing slab boundary artifact has been incorporated into this sequence. This approach provides: i) good SNR measurement of anatomy for the PDW image and optimal black-blood angiograms from the T2W image; ii) scan time efficiency (dual-contrast image sets plus black-blood angiograms within one acquisition); and iii) suppressed slab boundary artifacts as well as minimized mis-registration error.     

An MRA study of vascular stenosis in a pig model using CH3-DTPA-Gd (NMS60) and Gd-DTPA

PURPOSE: This study used an experimental arterial stenosis model in pigs to evaluate the utility of a new medium-weight MRI contrast agent, NMS60 (a synthetic oligomeric Gd complex containing three Gd(3+) atoms, molecular weight of 2158 Da) compared to Gd-DTPA for contrast-enhanced MRA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used six male white hybrid pigs. Under anesthesia, one femoral artery was exposed and an inflatable cuff placed around it. The cuff was tightened around the vessel until 80-90% stenosis was achieved using digital subtraction angiography as a guide. Animals were then immediately transferred to the MRI scanner and images acquired pre- and postcontrast injection (0.1 or 0.2 mmol Gd/kg Gd-DTPA or NMS60, as a rapid bolus) using high-resolution and dynamic MRA. RESULTS: The dynamic MRA scans acquired during contrast bolus injection clearly showed the stenosed femoral artery as a segment of close to zero enhancement during the arterial phase of the bolus transit, while on the high-resolution scans the stenosis was difficult to detect due to venous signal contamination. The signal-to-noise at peak enhancement on the dynamic scans was significantly greater with 0.1 mmol Gd/kg NMS60 compared to 0.1 mmol Gd/kg Gd-DTPA (14.6 vs. 9.9, P < .05) and not significantly greater than 0.2 mmol Gd/kg (14.6 vs. 12.8). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This new medium-weight contrast agent demonstrated significantly greater enhancement than Gd-DTPA and may be valuable to aid detection of vascular stenosis in humans.     

Accelerated passive MR catheter tracking into the carotid artery of canines

Background

Using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for navigating catheters has several advantages when compared with the current “gold standard” modality of X-ray imaging. A significant drawback to interventional MR is inferior temporal and spatial resolutions, as high spatial resolution images cannot be collected and displayed at rates equal to X-ray imaging. In particular, passive MR catheter tracking experiments that use positive contrast mechanisms have poor temporal imaging rates and signal-to-noise ratio. As a result, with passive methods, it is often difficult to reconstruct motion artifact-free tracking images from areas with motion, such as the thoracic cavity.

Methods

In this study, several accelerated MR acquisition strategies, including parallel imaging and compressed sensing (CS), were evaluated to determine which method is most effective at improving the frame rate and passive detection of catheters in regions of physiological motion. Device navigation was performed both in vitro, through the aortic arch of an anthropomorphic chest phantom, and in vivo from the femoral artery, up the descending aorta into the supra-aortic branching vessels in canines.

Results and Discussion

The different parallel imaging methods produced images of low quality. CS with a two-fold acceleration was found to be the most effective method for generating tracking images, improving the image frame rate to 5.2 Hz, while maintaining a relatively high in-plane resolution. Using CS, motion artifact was decreased and the catheters were visualized with good conspicuity near the heart.

Conclusions

The improvement in the imaging frame rate by image acceleration was sufficient to overcome motion artifacts and to better visualize catheters in the thoracic cavity with passive tracking. CS preformed best at tracking. Navigation with passive MR catheter tracking was demonstrated from the femoral artery to the carotid artery in canines.     

Evaluation of abdominal hemodynamics through compressed sensing accelerated functional imaging

PurposeTo compare the imaging characteristics of the volumetric-interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) using compressed-sensing (CS) acceleration (CS-VIBE) with the conventional sequence relying on parallel imaging to assess the potential use of CS-VIBE as a functional imaging technique for upper abdominal haemodynamics.Materials and methodsPatients (30 men, 27 women) suspected of having a hepatic disease underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver, including a dynamic contrast-enhanced study. Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid was used as the contrast agent. MRI data of two multi-phase breath-hold exams were used for intra-individual comparisons. The VIBE and CS-VIBE were performed on different days. Image quality in both sequences was qualitatively assessed by three experienced radiologists. Moreover, the contrast ratio (CR) of the aorta, portal vein, liver and pancreas to muscle tissue were measured as a quantitative assessment. For the CS-VIBE, a five-phase time–intensity curve (TIC) was created to evaluate haemodynamics. The measurement area included the pancreas, common hepatic artery, portal vein and superior mesenteric vein. The ratio of that area to the muscle tissue in the same cross section was used to create the TICs.ResultsThe qualitative assessment showed that artefacts were significantly different between the VIBE and CS-VIBE sequences. This finding indicated that the conventional VIBE had fewer artefacts. The CR was significantly higher for the CS-VIBE than for the VIBE images in all phases (p < 0.001). An evaluation of haemodynamics compared with those obtained by CT angiography showed almost the same temporal characteristics in the common hepatic artery, portal vein and superior mesenteric vein signals as those in a previous study.ConclusionCompared with the conventional VIBE, the CS-VIBE had significantly higher temporal resolution and higher image contrast. The temporal resolution of the CS-VIBE was sufficient for viewing abdominal haemodynamics. If the remaining limitation of acquisition speed for dynamic MRI can be adequately addressed, we believe that CS-VIBE functional images with high-contrast haemodynamics will be very useful in clinical practise.     

Focal fat deposition at liver MRI with gadobenate dimeglumine and gadoxetic acid: Quantitative and qualitative analysis

Objective

To evaluate the image findings of focal fat deposition (FFD) in the liver on gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA)- and gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI, particularly during the hepatobiliary phase (HBP), and the relationship between relative enhancement (RE) and fat signal fraction (FSF) of FFD.

Subjects and Methods

Twenty-one patients with 27 FFDs (mean diameter, 21.9 mm), which showed low signal intensity on opposed-phase compared with in-phase MRI, were retrospectively evaluated. RE of the liver (RE_liver) and FFD (RE_FFD) and liver-to-lesion contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of FFD were measured on dynamic phases and HBP images with fat-saturated in-phase gradient-echo sequence. The FSF of each FFD was measured on in- and opposed-phase dual gradient-echo images. We qualitatively analyzed imaging findings of FFDs, including signal intensity, shape, margin, and homogeneity on HBP images, and enhancement pattern during dynamic phases. The correlations between RE_FFD and FSF and between CNR and FSF on HBP images were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation tests and a simple linear regression model.

Results

There were no significant differences between RE_FFD and RE_liver in dynamic phases and HBP, regardless of contrast agents (p ≥ 0.075). On HBP images, CNR (p = 0.008) but not RE_FFD (p = 0.122) was significantly correlated with FSF of FFDs (mean FSF, 19%). On HBP images, 21 of the 27 (77.8%) FFDs were hypointense, and 17 (63%) were homogeneous. Of the 21 hypointense FFDs, 12 (57.1%) had an ovoid shape and 11 (52.4%) were well margined. Although the 27 FFDs showed various enhancement patterns, 17 (63%) showed no enhancement.

Conclusion

Most FFDs appeared as hypointense lesions on Gd-BOPTA- and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI during HBP, with various enhancement patterns during dynamic contrast-enhanced phases. RE_FFD on HBP images was not significantly correlated with FSF of low grade FFDs.     

High-resolution intracranial MRA at 7T using autocalibrating parallel imaging: initial experience in vascular disease patients

Purpose

Greater spatial resolution in intracranial three-dimensional time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is possible at higher field strengths, due to the increased contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) from the higher signal-to-noise ratio and the improved background suppression. However, at very high fields, spatial resolution is limited in practice by the acquisition time required for sequential phase encoding. In this study, we applied parallel imaging to 7T TOF MRA studies of normal volunteers and patients with vascular disease, in order to obtain very high resolution (0.12 mm³) images within a reasonable scan time.

Materials and Methods

Custom parallel imaging acquisition and reconstruction methods were developed for 7T MRA, based on generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA). The techniques were compared and applied to studies of seven normal volunteers and three patients with cerebrovascular disease.

Results

The technique produced high resolution studies free from discernible reconstruction artifacts in all subjects and provided excellent depiction of vascular pathology in patients.

Conclusions

7T TOF MRA with parallel imaging is a valuable noninvasive angiographic technique that can attain very high spatial resolution.     

Mismatch between Cerebral Blood Volume and Flow Index during Transient Focal Ischemia Studied with MRI and Gd-BOPTA

We investigated the regional and temporal changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and vascular transit time in seven mongrel cats during 30 min transient focal ischemia, caused by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging was done at 4.7 T, using fast gradient echo T₂¹ weighted imaging and intravenous injection of gadolinium-BOPTA/Dimeglumine. During occlusion, the areas showing a blood volume change were predominantly within the middle cerebral artery territory and could be divided into areas showing either CBV increases or decreases. The area with decreased blood volume also had decreased blood flow as measured by our flow-based index (p < 0.05) and was located in the central territory of the middle cerebral artery. Peripheral to this region was an area showing increased blood volume but without significant CBF changes (p > 0.05). During reperfusion, the CBF increased in the entire zone showing changes in blood volume during occlusion, and remained significantly elevated until 45 min post-occlusion, while CBV remained elevated in the hyperemic rim for at least 2 h. The presence of a peri-ischemic zone showing flow/volume mismatch identified a region wherein baseline CBF is maintained by means of compensatory vasodilatation, but where the ratio of CBF to CBV is decreased. Dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium-BOPTA/Dimeglumine may be a valuable technique for the investigation of regional and temporal perturbations of hemodynamics during ischemia and reperfusion.     

A variational approach to image registration in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the human kidney

Kidney function can be accessed by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) measurements which yield spatially resolved maps of physiological parameters like perfusion or filtration. The motion of the kidneys during the scan is a dominant limitation of the measurement quality, and image registration is necessary for accurate quantification. We analyzed the feasibility of applying an algorithm, originally developed for multimodal registration, to kidney perfusion time series. The algorithm uses a variational calculation scheme to align the images. In four out of five data sets, kidney motion could be reduced to below the spatial resolution of the images of 1.6 mm while preserving the enhancement pattern of kidney perfusion. Fitting a pharmacokinetic model to the data showed an average reduction of the Akaike fit error of 10% for the registered data, suggesting more stable parameters. We conclude that this image registration algorithm is feasible for correcting kidney motion in renal DCE-MRI.     

Hadamard-encoded sub-slice fMRI for reduced signal dropout

T2?-weighted blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging is adversely affected by susceptibility-induced field gradients in brain regions adjoining air interfaces that cause image distortion and signal dropout. Reducing slice thickness diminishes signal dropout but is accompanied by reduced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This study proposes simultaneous excitation of subslices with total width equal to the desired slice thickness, employing alternating Hadamard-encoded radiofrequency pulses coupled with incoherent addition of the subslices to achieve reduction of through-plane dephasing with minimal SNR loss but at the expense of a reduction in temporal resolution. Using a sensory task and hypercapnic challenge with breathholding (BH), results with two subslices per slice and a twofold reduction in temporal resolution show improved activation relative to a conventional acquisition. Average (eight subjects) T-scores in the BH task increased by 16% (P<.0003), and activation extent increased by 12% (not significant). In frontal brain regions, significant improvements in BH activation extent (11.4%, P<.05) and T-scores (18%, P<.0002) were demonstrated. Higher temporal resolution can be achieved by tradeoff of SNR.     

A feasible high spatiotemporal resolution breast DCE-MRI protocol for clinical settings

Three dimensional bilateral imaging is the standard for most clinical breast dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI protocols. Because of high spatial resolution (sRes) requirement, the typical 1–2 min temporal resolution (tRes) afforded by a conventional full-k-space-sampling gradient echo (GRE) sequence precludes meaningful and accurate pharmacokinetic analysis of DCE time-course data. The commercially available, GRE-based, k-space undersampling and data sharing TWIST (time-resolved angiography with stochastic trajectories) sequence was used in this study to perform DCE-MRI exams on thirty one patients (with 36 suspicious breast lesions) before their biopsies. The TWIST DCE-MRI was immediately followed by a single-frame conventional GRE acquisition. Blinded from each other, three radiologist readers assessed agreements in multiple lesion morphology categories between the last set of TWIST DCE images and the conventional GRE images. Fleiss’ κ test was used to evaluate inter-reader agreement. The TWIST DCE time-course data were subjected to quantitative pharmacokinetic analyses. With a four-channel phased-array breast coil, the TWIST sequence produced DCE images with 20 s or less tRes and ~ 1.0×1.0×1.4 mm³ sRes. There were no significant differences in signal-to-noise (P=.45) and contrast-to-noise (P=.51) ratios between the TWIST and conventional GRE images. The agreements in morphology evaluations between the two image sets were excellent with the intra-reader agreement ranging from 79% for mass margin to 100% for mammographic density and the inter-reader κ value ranging from 0.54 (P<.0001) for lesion size to 1.00 (P<.0001) for background parenchymal enhancement. Quantitative analyses of the DCE time-course data provided higher breast cancer diagnostic accuracy (91% specificity at 100% sensitivity) than the current clinical practice of morphology and qualitative kinetics assessments. The TWIST sequence may be used in clinical settings to acquire high spatiotemporal resolution breast DCE-MRI images for both precise lesion morphology characterization and accurate pharmacokinetic analysis.     

Feasibility of fat-saturated T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with slice encoding for metal artifact correction (SEMAC) at 3T

Background and Purpose

Fluid-sensitive MR imaging in postoperative evaluation is important, however, metallic artifacts is inevitable. The purpose is to investigate the feasibility of fat-saturated slice encoding for metal artifact correction (SEMAC)-corrected T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) at 3T in patients with spinal prostheses.

Methods

Following institutional review board approval, 27 SEMAC-encoded spinal MRs between September 2012 and October 2013 in patients with spinal metallic prostheses were analyzed. The MR images were scanned on a 3T MR system including SEMAC-corrected and uncorrected fast spin echo (FSE) T2-weighted MR images with fat-saturation. Two musculoskeletal radiologists compared the image sets and qualitatively analyzed the images using a five-point scale in terms of artifact reduction around the prosthesis, visualization of the prosthesis and pedicle, and intervertebral neural foramina. Quantitative assessments were performed by calculating the ratio of signal intensity from the fixated vertebra and that from upper level vertebra. For statistical analyses, paired t-test was used.

Results

Fat-saturated SEMAC-corrected T2-weighted MR images enabled significantly improved metallic artifact reduction (P < 0.05). Quantitative evaluation of the signal intensity ratio of screw-fixated vertebra and upper level vertebra showed a significantly lower ratio on fat-saturated SEMAC images (P < 0.05), however, the high signal intensity of signal pile-up could be not completely corrected.

Conclusion

SEMAC correction in fat-suppressed T2-weighted MR images can overcome the signal loss of metallic artifacts and provide improved delineation of the pedicle screw and peri-prosthetic region. Signal pile-up, however, could not be corrected completely, therefore readers should be cautious in the evaluation of marrow around the prosthesis.     

Optimization of coronary whole-heart MRA free-breathing technique at 3 Tesla

Four different techniques for 3-T whole-heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using free-breathing three-dimensional segmented parallel imaging and adiabatic T2-preparation were assessed. Coronary MRA at 3 T is improved by shortening the acquisition window more than employing the highest spatial resolution. Double-oblique whole-heart acquisitions result in better overall image quality and allow for better delineation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. It is possible to attain shorter acquisition windows and a smaller voxel size at 3 T than previously reported at 1.5 T.     

Reduction of flow- and eddy-currents-induced image artifacts in coronary magnetic resonance angiography using a linear centric-encoding SSFP sequence

Coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) acquired using steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequences tends to suffer from image artifacts caused by local magnetic field inhomogeneities. Flow- and gradient-switching-induced eddy currents are important sources of such phase errors, especially under off-resonant conditions. In this study, we propose to reduce these image artifacts by using a linear centric-encoding (LCE) scheme in the phase-encoding (PE) direction. Abrupt change in gradients, including magnitude and polarity between consecutive radiofrequency cycles, is minimized using the LCE scheme. Results from numeric simulations and phantom studies demonstrated that signal oscillation can be markedly reduced using LCE as compared to conventional alternating centric-encoding (ACE) scheme. The image quality of coronary arteries was improved at both 1.5 and 3.0 T using LCE compared to those acquired using ACE PE scheme (1.5 T: ACE/LCE=2.2+/-0.8/3.0+/-0.6, P=.02; 3.0 T: ACE/LCE=2.1+/-1.1/3.0+/-0.8, P=.01). In conclusion, flow- and eddy-currents-induced imaging artifacts in coronary MRA using SSFP sequence can be markedly reduced with LCE acquisition of PE lines.     

颅脑梯度回波成像:呼吸伪影和导航回波矫正

梯度回波序列是磁共振成像中常用的脉冲序列,然而梯度回波对主磁场波动非常敏感,呼吸等生理运动引起的信号波动会导致图像伪影.该文报道了采用导航回波技术获取呼吸运动导致的局部磁场波动,用以矫正图像回波中随时间变化的相位波动,并将该技术应用于三维多回波梯度回波成像和T2*定量图研究.研究结果显示:矫正前,相位波动幅度随回波时间增长而增大,模图和T2*定量图在相位编码方向有明显伪影,并且男女呼吸伪影水平有显著性差异;矫正后,相位波动幅度大幅下降,图像伪影水平有显著性下降.