Three-Point Phase-Contrast Velocity Measurements with Increased Velocity-to-Noise Ratio

We describe a technique to increase the velocity-to-noise ratio (VNR) of phase-contrast magnetic-resonance velocity images based on making three measurements/flow encoding axis rather than the usual two. A phase-aliased high first moment data set and a nonaliased low first moment data set are acquired, and the high-moment data are phase unwrapped using the low-moment data. The VNR of the resulting measurement is given by that of the high-moment measurement and increases linearly with the first moment. A factor of 4 gain in VNR was observed with only a 50% increase in scan time. Thus, this method is a much more efficient way to increase VNR than simple averaging.     

Single-shot GRASE imaging with short effective TEs

A new phase-encoding scheme for gradient- and spin-echo (GRASE) imaging giving a short effective TE is described. Unlike previous orders, phase encoding is centric rather than sequential. The sequence is a development of k-banded GRASE that uses different time segments of the echo train to encode different bands of k space. This phase-encoding order has been implemented in single-shot sequences on an imager with high performance gradients. Approximately 144 phase-encoding lines can be acquired in an echo train time of 390 ms. With centric phase encoding, the effective TE is 8 ms, compared with 75 ms for sequential encoding, and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in brain tissue are 50 to 70% higher. The sequence can be employed in, for example, diffusion and velocity imaging.     

Rapid cardiac imaging with turbo BRISK

A variety of variable and constant rate, sparse sampling strategies have previously been proposed to rapidly image dynamically changing objects. The majority of these strategies compile a k-space data set for any given time point by substituting k-space data from the most recently sampled time positions (extracted from the sparsely sampled set). The BRISK technique, is a variable rate, sparse sampling technique which additionally incorporates an interpolation scheme to more accurately represent k-space data at positions which were not directly sampled. Here, strategies are introduced that allow turbo concepts to be incorporated with BRISK. Simulations are conducted to compare the efficacy of the turbo BRISK acquisition and processing strategy against a constant rate, sparse sampling strategy with direct substitution of the most recently acquired k-space lines. It is shown that turbo BRISK generates images of similar quality in approximately half the time as the uniform sampling rate, sparse sampling strategy. Data from turbo BRISK acquisitions of multicardiac phase image sets, obtained on a normal volunteer and cardiac patients are presented.     

Echoplanar diffusion-weighted MRI with intravenous gadolinium-DTPA

It is occasionally necessary to repeat diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) after giving intravenous contrast medium (CM). However, the effects of CM on DWI and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) have not been fully examined. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether there are any diagnostically significant differences between echo-planar imaging (EPI)-DWI before and after intravenous CM. EPI-DWI was acquired twice in 203 consecutive patients before and after i.v. CM. Three blinded readers rated the diagnostic image quality. Quantitative ADC calculations were performed before and after CM in all 72 patients with lesions sufficiently large for quantification, and in 72 normal brain regions. Of the 203 patients, 127 had abnormalities on MRI, including ischaemic stroke (52), bleeding (nine), brain tumour with disturbed blood-brain barrier (BBB) (18) and other lesions (48). There were no significant signal differences on isotropic DWI before and after CM, even in lesions with definite disturbance of the BBB. No statistically significant difference between ADC of lesions and contralateral normal brain was observed.     

拉伸指数与单指数模型DWI对单侧大脑前循环动脉狭窄者的评价

目的:以单侧大脑前循环动脉不同程度狭窄的患者为研究对象,比较DWI的拉伸指数模型、单指数模型的各参数值在左、右半球之间的差异。方法:对申请头颈部动脉CTA检查的患者,在无MRI检查禁忌及患者知情同意的情况下行单指数和拉伸指数模型的扩散加权检查。采用的b值序列是:0、5、10、20、50、100、200、400、600、1000、1500、2000、3000s/mm2,通过工作站计算表观扩散系数(ADC)值、分布扩散系数(DDC)值和α值三个参数。根据颈内动脉系统是否狭窄及狭窄程度将患者分为A(无狭窄)、B(轻、中度狭窄)、C(重度狭窄或闭塞)三组,统计各组左右两侧大脑中动脉供血区的各参数值,运用非参数秩和检验法比较两侧值的组间差异及组内差异。结果:进入统计分析的患者共39例,其中A组11例,B组13例,C组15例。经统计学检验发现,ADC值、DDC值的左右侧差值及左右侧比值的对数值的各组间比较、C组的组内比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);B组DDC值的左右侧差值及左右侧比值的对数值的组内比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);B组ADC值的左右侧差值比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),左右侧比值的对数值的比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。α值的上述差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:运用多b值DWI技术定量分析大脑前循环狭窄时,单指数模型的ADC值和拉伸指数模型的DDC值在无动脉狭窄和狭窄者之间的差异均有明显体现,而DDC值对不同程度狭窄者之间的差异更敏感。     

Gene expression imaging with radiolabeled peptides

An approach to image radiolabeled peptide localization at tumor sites by inducing tumor cells to synthesize membrane expressed human somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (hSSTr2) with a high affinity for radiolabeled somatostatin analogues is described. The use of gene transfer technology to induce expression of high affinity membrane hSSTr2 can enhance the specificity and degree of radiolabeled peptide localization in tumors. Employing this strategy, induction of high levels of hSSTr2 expression with selective tumor uptake of radiolabeled peptides was achieved in both subcutaneous non-small cell lung cancer and intraperitoneal ovarian cancer mouse human tumor xenograft models. The features of this genetic transduction imaging approach are: (1) constitutive expression of a tumor-associated receptor is not required; (2) tumor cells are altered to express a new target receptor or increased quantities of a constitutive receptor at levels which may significantly increase tumor targeting of radiolabeled peptides compared to uptake in normal tissues; (3) gene transfer can be accomplished by local or regional injection of adenoviral vectors; (4) it is feasible to target adenovirus vectors to tumor cells by modifying adenoviral tropism (binding) or by the use of tumor-specific promoters such that the hSSTr2 will be specifically expressed in the desired tumor; and (5) this technique can be used to image expression of a second therapeutic gene.     

脑白质束扩散张量与阿尔茨海默病患者的神经心理学量表评分的多元线性回归分析

目的应用线性回归方法,通过对阿尔茨海默病(AD)的相关脑白质束扩散张量分析,找出与AD患者神经心理学评分的相关关系并建立回归方程。资料与方法对20例轻度AD患者、30例中重度AD患者以及25名年龄相匹配的正常老年自愿者进行扩散张量成像(DTI)扫描。DTI采用单次激励平面回波成像(EPI)序列,扩散敏感梯度施加在25个不同方向,生成平均扩散系数(MD)、部分各向异性(FA)参数图,结合彩色向量图及纤维追踪图分别测定各白质束的参数值,包括双侧扣带束、上纵束、下纵束、下额枕束、钩束、穹窿体、胼胝体膝部及压部。利用多元线性回归分析,建立各DTI参数与简易智能量表(MMSE)评分的回归模型。结果对照组与轻度AD组比较仅穹窿体和左侧扣带束的FA值存在明显差异;轻度AD组与中重度AD组比较穹窿体、双侧钩束、扣带束、下纵束、胼胝体膝部及压部及右侧下额枕束的FA值均存在统计学差异。对照组与轻度AD组的MD值在穹窿体区存在统计学差异,而轻度AD组与中重度AD组在穹窿体、双侧钩束、下额枕束、左侧扣带束、右侧上、下纵束、胼胝体膝部及压部均存在MD值的显著差异。回归模型提示穹窿体和左侧扣带束的FA值与MMSE评分存在正线性相关关系,...     

Quantitative sodium imaging with a flexible twisted projection pulse sequence

The quantification of sodium MR images from an arbitrary intensity scale into a bioscale fosters image interpretation in terms of the spatially resolved biochemical process of sodium ion homeostasis. A methodology for quantifying tissue sodium concentration using a flexible twisted projection imaging sequence is proposed that allows for optimization of tradeoffs between readout time, signal‐to‐noise ratio efficiency, and sensitivity to static field susceptibility artifacts. The gradient amplitude supported by the slew rate at each k‐space radius regularizes the readout gradient waveform design to avoid slew rate violation. Static field inhomogeneity artifacts are corrected using a frequency‐segmented conjugate phase reconstruction approach, with field maps obtained quickly from coregistered proton imaging. High‐quality quantitative sodium images have been achieved in phantom and volunteer studies with real isotropic spatial resolution of 7.5 × 7.5 × 7.5 mm³ for the slow T₂ component in ～8 min on a clinical 3‐T scanner. After correcting for coil sensitivity inhomogeneity and water fraction, the tissue sodium concentration in gray matter and white matter was measured to be 36.6 ± 0.6 μmol/g wet weight and 27.6 ± 1.2 μmol/g wet weight, respectively. Magn Reson Med 63:1583–1593, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Diffusion-weighted interleaved echo-planar imaging with a pair of orthogonal navigator echoes

This work describes a diffusion-weighted (DW) interleaved echo-planar imaging (IEPI) method for use on either conventional whole-body scanners or scanners equipped with highspeed gradient and receiver hardware. In combination with cardiac gating and motion correction with a pair of orthogonal navigator echoes, the presented method is time-efficient, compensates for patient motions, and is less sensitive to image distortions than single-shot methods. The motion-correction scheme consists of correction for constant and linear phase terms found from the orthogonal navigator echoes. The correction for the linear phase term in the phase-encode direction includes gridding the data to the Cartesian grid. The DW IEPI was used to image a phantom rotating about the slice-select direction, and motion correction was performed to eliminate ghost artifacts arising from motion in either the readout- or phase-encoding directions. DW IEPI with motion correction was performed on a normal volunteer and on a patient with a 26-day-old region of ischemia over much of the right hemisphere.     

Three-dimensional radial ultrashort echo-time imaging with T2 adapted sampling.

The application of 3D radial sampling of the free-induction decay to proton ultrashort echo-time (UTE) imaging is reported. The effects of T2 decay during signal acquisition on the 3D radial point-spread function are analyzed and compared to 2D radial and 1D sampling. It is found that in addition to the use of ultrashort TE, the proper choice of the acquisition-window duration TAQ is essential for imaging short-T2 components. For 3D radial sampling, a maximal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with negligible decay-induced loss in spatial resolution is obtained for an acquisition-window duration of TAQ approximately 0.69 T2. For 2D and 1D sampling, corresponding values are derived as well. Phantom measurements confirm the theoretical findings and demonstrate the impact of different acquisition-window durations on SNR and spatial resolution for a given T2 component. In vivo scans show the potential of 3D UTE imaging with T2-adapted sampling for musculoskeletal imaging using standard MR equipment. The visualization of complex anatomy is demonstrated by extracting curved slices from the isotropically resolved 3D UTE image data.     

Partially parallel imaging with phase-sensitive data: Increased temporal resolution for magnetic resonance temperature imaging.

Magnetic resonance temperature imaging can be used to monitor the progress of thermal ablation therapies, increasing treatment efficacy and improving patient safety. High temporal resolution is important when therapies rapidly heat tissue, but many approaches to faster image acquisition compromise image resolution, slice coverage, or phase sensitivity. Partially parallel imaging techniques offer the potential for improved temporal resolution without forcing such concessions. Although these techniques perturb image phase, relative phase changes between dynamically acquired phase-sensitive images, such as those acquired for MR temperature imaging, can be reliably measured through partially parallel imaging techniques using reconstruction filters that remain constant across the series. Partially parallel and non-accelerated phase-difference-sensitive data can be obtained through arrays of surface coils using this method. Average phase differences measured through partially parallel and fully Fourier encoded images are virtually identical, while phase noise increases with g(sqrt)L as in standard partially parallel image acquisitions..     

Whole-body diffusion-weighted MR imaging with fat suppression by using STIR: Clinical utility for detection of primary malignancies in patients initially presented with metastasis

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the usefulness of DW MR imaging with fat suppression by using short time inversion recovery (STIR) to detect primary malignancies for patients initially presented with metastasis by direct visual assessment.

Materials and methods

Twenty-nine consecutive patients presented with metastatic lesions were included in this study and underwent whole-body DW MR imaging for detection of the primary malignancies. Twenty-five healthy volunteers were included in this study as control subjects. Whole-body DW MR imaging was conducted with a multi-stack pulse sequence and two b values of 0 and 600 s/mm² and a coverage from head to knees. Three radiologists reviewed the whole-body DW MR images independently to detect the primary malignancies. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the overall accuracy of this imaging technique in direct visual detection of primary malignancies. Inter-observer agreement was assessed by using kappa analysis.

Results

For 82.8% (24/29) of the patients, primary malignancies were correctly identified with this whole-body DW MR imaging, and subsequently confirmed by biopsy and/or pathology. While for 17.2% (5/29) of patients, no definite primary malignancy was identified. ROC analysis yielded Az values of 0.907, 0.914, and 0.910 for the three reviewers, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity was 82.8% (24/29) and 100% (25/25) for the three viewers. The inter-observer agreement between each pair of reviewer was 0.935, 0.804, and 0.873, respectively.

Conclusion

For patients originally presented with metastases, whole-body DW MR imaging might have potential utility in detecting primary malignancies.     

Spiral scanning with anisotropic field of view

Spiral scanning has been used to achieve much shorter scan times than conventional techniques for a wide range of applications. The major drawback with spiral scans is blurring from off-resonant spins, which is proportional to the readout time. Blurring limits maximal spatial resolution and minimal scan time potentially achievable with spiral scanning. Anisotropic field of view is used in conventional scanning to improve image quality by matching /c-space trajectory to object characteristics. Anisotropic field of view improves spatial resolution in spiral scanning without increasing scan time or blurring. The resolution improvement results from increased maximal k-space radius allowed by the lower field of view. A field of view reduction by a factor of 2 in one direction provides up to 60% resolution improvement in that direction. Reduced SNR also results from non-uniform /c-space sampling.     

Consistent fat suppression with compensated spectral-spatial pulses

Reliable fat suppression is especially important with fast imaging techniques such as echo-planar (EPI), spiral, and fast spin-echo (FSE) T₂-weighted imaging. Spectral-spatial excitation has a number of advantages over spectrally selective presaturation techniques, including better resilience to B₀ and B₁, inhomogeneity. In this paper, a FSE sequence using a spectral-spatial excitation pulse for superior fat suppression is presented. Previous problems maintaining the CPMG condition are solved using simple methods to accurately program radio-frequency (RF) phase. Next an analysis shows how B₀ eddy currents can reduce fat suppression effectiveness for spectral-spatial pulses designed for conventional gradient systems. Three methods to compensate for the degradation are provided. Both the causes of the degradation and the compensation techniques apply equally to gradient-recalled applications using these pulses. These problems do not apply to pulses designed for high-speed gradient systems. The spectral-spatial FSE sequence delivers clinically lower fat signal with better uniformity than spectrally selective pre-saturation techniques.     

颈部淋巴结的MR扩散加权成像

目的评价颈部淋巴结MR扩散加权成像（DWI）的可行性，及其在鉴别正常淋巴结和转移性淋巴结中的价值。资料与方法对34例鼻咽癌患者和14名健康志愿者进行颈部常规MR和DWI，比较两种成像技术对淋巴结的显示能力，并比较正常和转移性淋巴结ADC值差异的统计学意义。扫描采用基于敏感性编码（SENSE）技术的短恢复时间反转恢复（STIR）-平面回波成像序列（EPI）-DWI。结果DWI较常规MR能更敏感地显示淋巴结。正常淋巴结的ADC值为（0．975±0．179）×10^-3mm^2／s，转移性淋巴结的ADC值为（0．744±0．125）×10^-3mm^2／s，两者间的差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01），转移性淋巴结的ADC值明显低于正常淋巴结的ADC值。结论STIR-EPI-DWI能准确和敏感地显示颈部淋巴结，可作为淋巴结MR成像的一种新手段，并为正常淋巴结和转移性淋巴结的鉴别提供新的方法。     

k-t GRAPPA: a k-space implementation for dynamic MRI with high reduction factor.

A novel technique called "k-t GRAPPA" is introduced for the acceleration of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging. Dynamic magnetic resonance images have significant signal correlations in k-space and time dimension. Hence, it is feasible to acquire only a reduced amount of data and recover the missing portion afterward. Generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA), as an important parallel imaging technique, linearly interpolates the missing data in k-space. In this work, it is shown that the idea of GRAPPA can also be applied in k-t space to take advantage of the correlations and interpolate the missing data in k-t space. For this method, no training data, filters, additional parameters, or sensitivity maps are necessary, and it is applicable for either single or multiple receiver coils. The signal correlation is locally derived from the acquired data. In this work, the k-t GRAPPA technique is compared with our implementation of GRAPPA, TGRAPPA, and sliding window reconstructions, as described in Methods. The experimental results manifest that k-t GRAPPA generates high spatial resolution reconstruction without significant loss of temporal resolution when the reduction factor is as high as 4. When the reduction factor becomes higher, there might be a noticeable loss of temporal resolution since k-t GRAPPA uses temporal interpolation. Images reconstructed using k-t GRAPPA have less residue/folding artifacts than those reconstructed by sliding window, much less noise than those reconstructed by GRAPPA, and wider temporal bandwidth than those reconstructed by GRAPPA with residual k-space. k-t GRAPPA is applicable to a wide range of dynamic imaging applications and is not limited to imaging parts with quasi-periodic motion. Since only local information is used for reconstruction, k-t GRAPPA is also preferred for applications requiring real time reconstruction, such as monitoring interventional MRI.     

同时多层成像技术联合肝脏MR扩散成像的应用及展望

同时多层（SMS）成像技术与多种MRI序列联合应用可明显缩短成像时间。MR扩散成像,如常规扩散加权成像（DWI）、体素内不相干运动成像（IVIM）、扩散张量成像（DTI）和扩散峰度成像（DKI）能反映组织内水分子扩散、血流灌注、组织结构复杂性等微观特征,在肝脏病变检测和辅助定性中有重要价值。SMS与MR扩散成像联合后可明显缩短成像时间,利于各种MR扩散成像在肝脏中的广泛应用。综述SMS对肝脏扩散成像扫描速度的提升效率、对影像质量和定量参数的影响,以期推动SMS成像技术在临床中的广泛应用。     

Application of reduced-encoding imaging with generalized-series reconstruction (RIGR) in dynamic MR imaging

Dynamic MRI has proven to be an important tool in studies of transient physiologic changes in animals and humans. High sensitivity and temporal resolution in such measurements are critical for accurate estimation of dynamic information. Fast imaging, often involving expensive hardware, has evolved for use in such cases. We demonstrate herein the possibility of accelerated data acquisition schemes on conventional machines using standard pulse sequences for dynamic studies. This is achieved by combining reduced-encoded dynamic data (typically 30 to 40 phase encodings) with a priori high-resolution data via a novel constrained image reconstruction algorithm. Such an approach reduces image acquisition time significantly (by a factor of 3 to 4 in the examples described here) without loss in the accuracy of information.