Project description:The knowledge of relaxation times is essential for understanding the biophysical mechanisms underlying contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. Quantitative experiments, while offering major advantages in terms of reproducibility, may benefit from simultaneous acquisitions. In this work, we demonstrate the possibility of simultaneously recording relaxation-time and susceptibility maps with a prototype Multi-Echo (ME) Magnetization-Prepared 2 RApid Gradient Echoes (MP2RAGE) sequence. T1 maps can be obtained using the MP2RAGE sequence, which is relatively insensitive to inhomogeneities of the radio-frequency transmit field, [Formula: see text]. As an extension, multiple gradient echoes can be acquired in each of the MP2RAGE readout blocks, which permits the calculation of [Formula: see text] and susceptibility maps. We used computer simulations to explore the effects of the parameters on the precision and accuracy of the mapping. In vivo parameter maps up to 0.6 mm nominal resolution were acquired at 7 T in 19 healthy volunteers. Voxel-by-voxel correlations and the test-retest reproducibility were used to assess the reliability of the results. When using optimized paramenters, T1 maps obtained with ME-MP2RAGE and standard MP2RAGE showed excellent agreement for the whole range of values found in brain tissues. Simultaneously obtained [Formula: see text] and susceptibility maps were of comparable quality as Fast Low-Angle SHot (FLASH) results. The acquisition times were more favorable for the ME-MP2RAGE (≈ 19 min) sequence as opposed to the sum of MP2RAGE (≈ 12 min) and FLASH (≈ 10 min) acquisitions. Without relevant sacrifice in accuracy, precision or flexibility, the multi-echo version may yield advantages in terms of reduced acquisition time and intrinsic co-registration, provided that an appropriate optimization of the acquisition parameters is performed.
Project description:To develop technical recommendations on the acquisition and post-processing of renal longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation time mapping. A multidisciplinary panel consisting of 18 experts in the field of renal T1 and T2 mapping participated in a consensus project, which was initiated by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action PARENCHIMA CA16103. Consensus recommendations were formulated using a two-step modified Delphi method. The first survey consisted of 56 items on T1 mapping, of which 4 reached the pre-defined consensus threshold of 75% or higher. The second survey was expanded to include both T1 and T2 mapping, and consisted of 54 items of which 32 reached consensus. Recommendations based were formulated on hardware, patient preparation, acquisition, analysis and reporting. Consensus-based technical recommendations for renal T1 and T2 mapping were formulated. However, there was considerable lack of consensus for renal T1 and particularly renal T2 mapping, to some extent surprising considering the long history of relaxometry in MRI, highlighting key knowledge gaps that require further work. This paper should be regarded as a first step in a long-term evidence-based iterative process towards ever increasing harmonization of scan protocols across sites, to ultimately facilitate clinical implementation.
Project description:PurposeTo confirm the ability of native T1 and T2 values in detecting and monitoring early myocardial injuries of chest radiotherapy in neoplasm patients.Materials and methodsFifteen participants received non-anthracycline chemotherapy and chest radiotherapy, and 30 age/gender-matched controls were enrolled in this prospective study. Cardiac magnetic resonance scans were performed within 2 days, 3 months, and 6 months after chest radiotherapy. Myocardial native T1 and T2 values were measured in irradiated and nonirradiated areas. Meanwhile, the parameters of left ventricular function and left ventricular myocardial strain were obtained.ResultsThere were no significant differences in left ventricular function, native T1, T2, and strain between patients and controls before chest radiotherapy. In 15 participants who were followed up for 6 months, there was a significant change only in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) among baseline and the first follow-up (P = 0.021), while the adjusted P-value was higher than 0.05 after Bonferroni correction, as well as other parameters. Native T1 values were elevated at 3 and 6 months in irradiated areas compared with baseline (1,288.72 ± 66.59 ms vs. 1,212.51 ± 45.41 ms; 1,348.01 ± 54.16 ms vs. 1,212.51 ± 45.41 ms; P < 0.001 for both). However, T2 values only changed at 3 months in irradiated areas compared with baseline (44.21 ± 3.35 ms vs. 39.14 ± 1.44 ms; P = 0.006). Neither the native T1 nor T2 values changed in nonirradiated areas during the follow-up period (all P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in strain changes during the follow-up period (all P > 0.05).ConclusionNative T1 and T2 values elevated at 3 months after chest radiotherapy, whereas LVEF showed no significant change during the 6-month follow-up.
Project description:An easy, reliable, and time-efficient standardized approach for assessing lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration with relaxation times measurements in pre-clinical and clinical studies is lacking. This prospective study aims to determine the most appropriate method for lumbar IVD degeneration (IDD) assessment in sheep by comparing three quantitative MRI sequences (variable-flip-angle T1 mapping, and multi-echo T2 and T2* mapping), correlating them with Pfirrmann grading and histology. Strong intra- and interrater agreements were found for Nucleus pulposus (NP) regions-of-interest (ROI). T1, T2, and T2* mapping correlated with Pfirrmann grading and histological scoring (p < 0.05) except for the most ventral rectangular ROI on T2 maps. Correlations were excellent for all of the T1 ROIs and the T2* NP ROIs. Highly significant differences in T1 values were found between all Pfirrmann grades except between grades I/II and between grades III/IV. Significant differences were identified in the T2 and the T2* values between all grades except between grades I/III. T1, T2, and T2* relaxation times measurements of the NP are an accurate and time-efficient tool to assess lumbar IDD in sheep. Variable-flip-angle T1 mapping may be further considered as a valuable method to investigate IDD and to assess the efficacy of regenerative treatments in longitudinal studies.
Project description:BackgroundCardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parametric mapping sequences offer insights into disease pathophysiology. We propose a novel approach by leveraging T2 mapping in conjunction with T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) mapping to perform a virtual myocardial biopsy. While previous work has attempted to describe myocardial changes in DMD, our inclusion of T2 mapping enables comprehensive categorization of myocardial tissue characteristics of fibrosis, edema, and fat to better understand the pathological composition of the myocardium with disease progression.MethodsDMD patients (n = 49; median: 12 years-old) underwent CMR, including T1, T2, and ECV. Categories were defined as normal, isolated high T1 (normal ECV, high T1, normal T2), fibrosis (high ECV, normal or high T1, normal T2), edema (normal or high ECV, normal or high T1, high T2), fat (normal ECV, low T1, high T2) or fibrofatty (high ECV, low T1, high T2).ResultsMedian left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 59% with 27% having LVEF < 55%. Those with normal LVEF and no late gadolinium enhancement (37%) were younger in age (10.5 ± 2.6 vs. 15.0 ± 4.3 years-old, p < 0.001). Native T1 was elevated in at least one slice in 82% of patients. Those with high T2 at any slice (27%) were older (p = 0.005) and had lower LVEF (p = 0.005) compared with subjects with normal T2 (73%). The most common myocardial characterization was fibrosis (43%) followed by isolated high T1 (24%). Of the 13 with high T2, ten were categorized as edema, two as fibrofatty, and one as fat.ConclusionCMR parametric mapping sequences offer insights into Duchenne cardiomyopathy pathophysiology, which should drive development of therapeutic interventions aimed at these targets. Myocardial fibrosis is common in DMD. Patients with elevated T2 were older and had lower LVEF. Though fat infiltration was present, the majority of subjects with elevated T2 met criteria for myocardial edema.
Project description:ObjectiveTo explore the different influences of walking, running and stair activity on knee articular cartilage with T1 rho and T2 mapping sequences.Materials and methodsMRI (3.0-T) scans of the right knee were performed in twenty-three young healthy adults immediately after 30 minutes of rest, walking, running and stair activity respectively. Articular cartilage was quantitatively assessed based on T1 rho and T2 relaxation times. Analysis of variance for random block design data, bonferroni test and paired samples t tests were performed to estimate the different influences of physiological activities on articular cartilage.ResultsT1 rho and T2 values had reductions after physiological activities in all regions of articular cartilage. T1 rho and T2 values were decreased more after running than walking. T1 rho and T2 values were decreased more after stair activity than running, except for femoral cartilage. The superficial layer of patella cartilage had higher reduction rates than the deep layer. The T1 rho and T2 values of articular cartilage were reduced in the following order: patellofemoral cartilage> medial tibiofemoral cartilage> lateral tibiofemoral cartilage. Patellofemoral cartilage experienced reductions in the following order: lateral part> middle part> medial part. Tibiofemoral cartilage had reductions in the following order: posterior part> middle part> anterior part.ConclusionsT1 rho and T2 mapping sequences can quantitatively reflect the different influences of physiological activities on knee articular cartilage. Fluid shifts, collagen fiber deformation, spatial heterogeneity, inherent differences in material properties and tissue stiffness have close relationship with cartilage loading characteristics.
Project description:ObjectivesThis study was aimed to systematically review the existing literature and explore more the diagnostic value of T1 and T2 mapping in acute myocarditis.MethodsStudies were searched from five electronic databases. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and summary receiver operating characteristic curves (SROC) were calculated to present diagnostic performance. A meta-regression and subgroup analysis was performed based on validation (endomyocardial biopsy [EMB] vs. clinical criteria).ResultsA total of 10 studies were included, with 400 myocarditis patients and 266 controls. Native T1, T2, and extracellular volume (ECV) values were significantly increased in the myocarditis group. Pooled sensitivities for T1, T2 mapping, and ECV were 0.84 (0.78-0.88), 0.77 (0.69-0.83), and 0.69 (0.50-0.83), respectively. Pooled specificities were 0.86 (0.69-0.95), 0.83 (0.73-0.89), and 0.77 (0.63-0.87), respectively. The DORs were 32 (12-87), 16 (8-30), and 7 (4-14), respectively. The areas under the curve (AUC) of SROC were 0.87 (0.84-0.90), 0.86 (0.82-0.89), and 0.80 (0.76-0.83), respectively. In the meta-regression and subgroup analysis, significantly lower specificities of T1 and T2 mapping were observed in EMB studies (p < 0.01).ConclusionThe currently available evidence shows that T1 and T2 mapping including ECV alone offer comparably good diagnostic performance for the detection of acute myocarditis. The reason for the observed mismatch with EMB findings should be further investigated.
Project description:Background and purposeThe topography of craniopharyngiomas has proved fundamental in predicting the involvement of vital brain structures and the possibility of achieving a safe radical resection. Beyond the imprecise term "suprasellar," indiscriminately used for craniopharyngiomas, an accurate definition of craniopharyngioma topography should be assessed by preoperative MR imaging. The objective of this study was to investigate the MRI findings that help define craniopharyngioma topography.Materials and methodsThis study retrospectively investigated a cohort of 200 surgically treated craniopharyngiomas with their corresponding preoperative midsagittal and coronal conventional T1- and T2-weighted MR images, along with detailed descriptions of the surgical findings. Radiologic variables related to the occupation of the tumor of intracranial compartments and the distortions of anatomic structures along the sella turcica-third ventricle axis were analyzed and correlated with the definitive craniopharyngioma topography observed during the surgical procedures. A predictive model for craniopharyngioma topography was generated by multivariate analysis.ResultsFive major craniopharyngioma topographies can be defined according to the degree of hypothalamic distortion caused by the tumor: sellar-suprasellar, pseudointraventricular, secondary intraventricular, not strictly intraventricular, and strictly intraventricular. Seven key radiologic variables identified on preoperative MRI allowed a correct overall prediction of craniopharyngioma topography in 86% of cases: 1) third ventricle occupation, 2) pituitary stalk distortion, 3) relative level of the hypothalamus in relation to the tumor, 4) chiasmatic cistern occupation, 5) mammillary body angle, 6) type of chiasm distortion, and 7) tumor shape.ConclusionsSystematic assessment of these 7 variables on conventional preoperative T1 and T2 MRI is a useful and reliable method to ascertain individual craniopharyngioma topography.
Project description:We propose a simultaneous myocardial T1 and T2 mapping technique using a radial sequence with inversion recovery and T2 preparation, which achieves high accuracy and precision, with T1 and T2 reproducibility similar to the Modified Look-Locker Inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence and the conventional bright blood T2 mapping technique, respectively. The sequence was developed by incorporating gold angle radial fast low angle shot (FLASH) readout combined with an inversion pulse and T2prep pulses. The extended Bloch equation simulation with slice profile correction (BLESSPC) algorithm was proposed to reconstruct T1 and T2 maps at the same time in a few seconds, while maintaining good T1 and T2 estimation accuracy. Accuracy and precision were compared among the proposed technique, MOLLI and conventional T2 mapping techniques using phantom studies, 10 healthy volunteers and three patients. In phantom studies, the proposed technique was more accurate than MOLLI (P < 0.05) while achieving similar precision (P = 0.3) in T1 estimation, and was more accurate (P < 0.05) and precise (P < 0.001) than conventional T2 mapping (two-parameter fitting) in T2 estimation. In vivo, the proposed technique achieved significantly higher T1 values (P < 0.001) and similar reproducibility (P = 0.3) compared with MOLLI, with significantly lower T2 values (P < 0.001) and similar reproducibility (P = 0.6) compared with the conventional T2 mapping technique. Thus, the proposed radial T1-T2 mapping technique allows for accurate, precise, simultaneous myocardial T1 and T2 mapping in an 11-heartbeat single breath-hold acquisition.