Dataset Information

Characterization of lenticulostriate arteries with high resolution black-blood T1-weighted turbo spin echo with variable flip angles at 3 and 7?Tesla.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:The lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs) with small diameters of a few hundred microns take origin directly from the high flow middle cerebral artery (MCA), making them especially susceptible to damage (e.g. by hypertension). This study aims to present high resolution (isotropic ?0.5?mm), black blood MRI for the visualization and characterization of LSAs at both 3?T and 7?T. MATERIALS AND METHODS:T1-weighted 3D turbo spin-echo with variable flip angles (T1w TSE-VFA) sequences were optimized for the visualization of LSAs by performing extended phase graph (EPG) simulations. Twenty healthy volunteers (15 under 35 years old, 5 over 60 years old) were imaged with the T1w TSE-VFA sequences at both 3?T and 7?T. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was quantified, and LSAs were manually segmented using ITK-SNAP. Automated Reeb graph shape analysis was performed to extract features including vessel length and tortuosity. All quantitative metrics were compared between the two field strengths and two age groups using ANOVA. RESULTS:LSAs can be clearly delineated using optimized 3D T1w TSE-VFA at 3?T and 7?T, and a greater number of LSA branches can be detected compared to those by time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF MRA) at 7?T. The CNR of LSAs was comparable between 7?T and 3?T. T1w TSE-VFA showed significantly higher CNR than TOF MRA at the stem portion of the LSAs branching off the medial middle cerebral artery. The mean vessel length and tortuosity were greater on TOF MRA compared to TSE-VFA. The number of detected LSAs by both TSE-VFA and TOF MRA was significantly reduced in aged subjects, while the mean vessel length measured on 7?T TSE-VFA showed significant difference between the two age groups. CONCLUSION:The high-resolution black-blood 3D T1w TSE-VFA sequence offers a new method for the visualization and quantification of LSAs at both 3?T and 7?T, which may be applied for a number of pathological conditions related to the damage of LSAs.

SUBMITTER: Ma SJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6688958 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundThe black-blood (BB) technique was developed to suppress the signal from blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to provide improved depiction of vessel walls.PurposeThe aim was to compare three-dimensional turbo spin echo T1-weighted imaging (3D TSE T1WI) with or without two BB techniques (delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation [DANTE], and improved motion-sensitized driven equilibrium [iMSDE]) for high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) of the vessel walls of intracranial arteries.Study typeProspective.PopulationFourteen healthy volunteers who underwent 3D T1WI for examination of intracranial vessel walls.Field strength/sequence3 Tesla, 3D TSE T1WI (SPACE and BrainVIEW) and BB (DANTE and iMSDE).AssessmentSPACE with or without DANTE, and BrainVIEW with or without iMSDE, were acquired in each subject. Two neuroradiologists independently assessed image quality, vessel wall delineation, BB effect, CSF, and acceptability using visual scoring systems, and measured signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in vessel walls, lumen, and CSF, while blinded to the presence and type of BB technique used.Statistical testsRepeated measures ANOVA or Friedman tests were performed for the comparisons, followed by Bonferroni correction.ResultsThe 3T T1WI sequences without BB are significantly superior in vessel wall delineation (P = 0.001). Black CSF scores were lower in SPACE with DANTE than SPACE without DANTE, and in BrainVIEW without iMSDE than SPACE without DANTE (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in BB effect, image quality, and acceptability between the four 3D T1WI sequences (p > .05). The SNRVessel wall, CNRWall-Lumen, and CNRWall-CSF were higher (all p < .001) on SPACE with and without DANTE than on BrainVIEW with and without iMSDE. SNRLumen were higher (all p < .001) on BrainVIEW with and without iMSDE than on SPACE with and without DANTE. SNRCSF was higher (all p < .001) on BrainVIEW with iMSDE than on SPACE with DANTE.Data conclusionBoth 3D TSE T1WI sequences were acceptable for intracranial vessel wall evaluation, with or without BB techniques. Therefore, BB techniques may not necessarily be required with 3D TSE T1WI with a long ETL and TR (below 1160 ms).

Project description:Purpose To assess image quality and speed improvements for single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) with variable refocusing flip angles and full-Fourier acquisition (vrfSSFSE) pelvic imaging via a prospective trial performed in the context of uterine leiomyoma evaluation. Materials and Methods Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. vrfSSFSE and conventional SSFSE sagittal and coronal oblique acquisitions were performed in 54 consecutive female patients referred for 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) evaluation of known or suspected uterine leiomyomas. Two radiologists who were blinded to the image acquisition technique semiquantitatively scored images on a scale from -2 to 2 for noise, image contrast, sharpness, artifacts, and perceived ability to evaluate uterine, ovarian, and musculoskeletal structures. The null hypothesis of no significant difference between pulse sequences was assessed with a Wilcoxon signed rank test by using a Holm-Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Results Because of reductions in specific absorption rate, vrfSSFSE imaging demonstrated significantly increased speed (more than twofold, P < .0001), with mean repetition times compared with conventional SSFSE imaging decreasing from 1358 to 613 msec for sagittal acquisitions and from 1494 to 621 msec for coronal oblique acquisitions. Almost all assessed image quality and perceived diagnostic capability parameters were significantly improved with vrfSSFSE imaging. These improvements included noise, sharpness, and ability to evaluate the junctional zone, myometrium, and musculoskeletal structures for both sagittal acquisitions (mean values of 0.56, 0.63, 0.42, 0.56, and 0.80, respectively; all P values < .0001) and coronal oblique acquisitions (mean values of 0.81, 1.09, 0.65, 0.93, and 1.12, respectively; all P values < .0001). For evaluation of artifacts, there was an insufficient number of cases with differences to allow statistical testing. Conclusion Compared with conventional SSFSE acquisition, vrfSSFSE acquisition increases 3-T imaging speed via reduced specific absorption rate and leads to significant improvements in perceived image quality and perceived diagnostic capability when evaluating pelvic structures. © RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Project description:Background/Aim: The turbo spin-echo (TSE) sequence is widely used for musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging; however, its acquisition speed is limited and can be easily affected by motion artifacts. We aimed to evaluate whether the use of a simultaneous multi-slice TSE (SMS-TSE) sequence can accelerate MSK imaging while maintaining image quality when compared with the routine TSE sequence. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 71 patients [mean age, 37.43 ± 12.56 (range, 20-67) years], including 37 men and 34 women, to undergo TSE and SMS sequences. The total scanning times for the wrist, ankle and knee joint with routine sequence were 14.92, 13.97, and 13.48 min, respectively. For the SMS-TSE sequence, they were 7.52, 7.20, and 6.87 min. Quantitative parameters, including the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), were measured. Three experienced MSK imaging radiologists qualitatively evaluated the image quality of bone texture, cartilage, tendons, ligament, meniscus, and artifact using a 5-point evaluation system, and the diagnostic performance of the SMS-TSE sequences was evaluated. Results: Compared with the routine TSE sequences, the scanning time was lower by 49.60, 48.46, and 49.04% using SMS-TSE sequences for the wrist, ankle, and knee joints, respectively. For the SNR comparison, the SMS-TSE sequences were significantly higher than the routine TSE sequence for wrist (except for Axial-T2WI-FS), ankle, and knee joint MR imaging (all p < 0.05), but no statistical significance was obtained for the CNR measurement (all p > 0.05, except for Sag-PDWI-FS in ankle joint). For the wrist joint, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 88.24, 100, and 92%. For the ankle joint, they were 100, 75, and 93.33%. For the knee joint, they were 87.50, 85.71, and 87.10%. Conclusion: The use of the SMS-TSE sequence in the wrist, ankle, and knee joints can significantly reduce the scanning time and show similar image quality when compared with the routine TSE sequence.

Dataset Information

Characterization of lenticulostriate arteries with high resolution black-blood T1-weighted turbo spin echo with variable flip angles at 3 and 7?Tesla.

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