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Colbert CM, Ming Z, Pogosyan A, Finn JP, Nguyen KL. Comparison of Three Ultrasmall, Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for MRI at 3.0 T. J Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 57:1819-1829. [PMID: 36250695 PMCID: PMC10106532 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ultrasmall, superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticle ferumoxytol has unique applications in cardiac, vascular, and body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to its long intravascular half-life and suitability as a blood pool agent. However, limited availability and high cost have hindered its clinical adoption. A new ferumoxytol generic, and the emergence of MoldayION as an alternative USPIO, represent opportunities to expand the use of USPIO-enhanced MRI techniques. PURPOSE To compare in vitro and in vivo MRI relaxometry and enhancement of Feraheme, generic ferumoxytol, and MoldayION. STUDY TYPE Prospective. ANIMAL MODEL Ten healthy swine and six swine with artificially induced coronary narrowing underwent cardiac MRI. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3.0 T; T1-weighted (4D-MUSIC, 3D-VIBE, 2D-MOLLI) and T2-weighted (2D-HASTE) sequences pre- and post-contrast. ASSESSMENT We compared the MRI relaxometry of Feraheme, generic ferumoxytol, and MoldayION using saline, plasma, and whole blood MRI phantoms with contrast concentrations from 0.26 mM to 2.10 mM. In-vivo contrast effects on T1- and T2-weighted sequences and fractional intravascular contrast distribution volume in myocardium, liver, and spleen were evaluated. STATISTICAL TESTS Analysis of variance and covariance were used for group comparisons. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The r1 relaxivities for Feraheme, generic ferumoxytol, and MoldayION in saline (22 °C) were 7.11 ± 0.13 mM-1 s-1 , 8.30 ± 0.29 mM-1 s-1 , 8.62 ± 0.16 mM-1 s-1 , and the r2 relaxivities were 111.74 ± 3.76 mM-1 s-1 , 105.07 ± 2.20 mM-1 s-1 , and 109.68 ± 2.56 mM-1 s-1 , respectively. The relationship between contrast concentration and longitudinal (R1) and transverse (R2) relaxation rate was highly linear in saline and plasma. The three agents produced similar in vivo contrast effects on T1 and T2 relaxation time-weighted sequences. DATA CONCLUSION Relative to clinically approved ferumoxytol formulations, MoldayION demonstrates minor differences in in vitro relaxometry and comparable in vivo MRI characteristics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M. Colbert
- Physics and Biology in Medicine Graduate Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging Research Laboratory, Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Zhengyang Ming
- Physics and Biology in Medicine Graduate Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging Research Laboratory, Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Arutyun Pogosyan
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
| | - J. Paul Finn
- Physics and Biology in Medicine Graduate Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging Research Laboratory, Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Kim-Lien Nguyen
- Physics and Biology in Medicine Graduate Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging Research Laboratory, Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
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Lee DK, Kang MS, Cho H. MRI size assessment of cerebral microvasculature using diffusion-time-dependent stimulated-echo acquisition: A feasibility study in rodent. Neuroimage 2020; 215:116784. [PMID: 32276059 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a stimulated-echo (STE) method was employed to robustify the cerebral vessel size estimation near air-tissue, bone-tissue interfaces, and large vessels. The proposed solution is to replace the relaxation rate change from gradient-echo (GRE) with that from STE with long diffusion time after the injection of an intravascular contrast agent, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The corresponding diffusion length of STE is shorter than the length over which the unwanted macroscopic field inhomogeneities but is still longer than the correlation length of the fields induced by small vessels. Therefore, the unwanted field inhomogeneities are refocused, while preserving microscopic susceptibility contrast from cerebral vessels. The mean vessel diameter (dimensionless) derived from the diffusion-time-varying STE method was compared to the mean vessel diameter obtained by a conventional spin-echo (SE) and GRE combination based on Monte-Carlo proton diffusion simulations and in vivo rat experiments at 7 T. The in vivo mean vessel diameter from the MRI experiments was directly compared to available reference mouse brain vasculature obtained by a knife-edge scanning microscope (KESM), which is considered to be the gold standard. Monte-Carlo simulation revealed that SE and GRE-based MR relaxation rate changes (ΔR2 and ΔR2∗, respectively) can be enhanced using single STE-based MR relaxation rate change (ΔRSTE) by regulating diffusion time, especially for small vessels. The in vivo mean vessel diameter from the STE method demonstrated a closer agreement with that from the KESM compared to the combined SE and GRE method, especially in the olfactory bulb and cortex. This study demonstrates that STE relaxation rate changes can be used as consistent measures for assessing small cerebral microvasculature, where macroscopic field inhomogeneity is severe and signal contamination from adjacent large vessels is significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- D K Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - M S Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - H Cho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, South Korea.
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Zhu A, Reeder SB, Johnson KM, Nguyen SM, Fain SB, Bird IM, Golos TG, Wieben O, Shah DM, Hernando D. Quantitative ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI in pregnancy: A feasibility study in the nonhuman primate. Magn Reson Imaging 2020; 65:100-108. [PMID: 31655139 PMCID: PMC6956847 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2019.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the feasibility of ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI in pregnancy with a nonhuman primate model. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this prospective study, eleven pregnant rhesus macaques at day 98 ± 5 of gestation were divided into three groups, untreated control (UC) (n = 3), saline control (SC) (n = 4) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) treated (IT) (n = 4), which were administered with either saline or IL-1β into the amniotic fluid. All animals were imaged at multiple time points before and after ferumoxytol administration (4 mg/kg). Longitudinal R2* and susceptibility of tissues were obtained using region-of-interest analysis and the longitudinal changes were assessed using linear mixed models and Student's t-test. RESULTS In fetuses, a slope of 0.3 s-1/day (P = 0.008), 0.00 ppm/day (P = 0.699) and - 0.2 s-1/day (P = 0.023) was observed in liver R2*, liver susceptibility, and lung R2*, respectively. In placentas, R2* and susceptibility increased immediately after ferumoxytol administration (P < 0.001) and decreased to baseline within two days. The mean change from baseline showed no significant difference between the SC group and the IT group at all scan time points. In maternal livers, R2* increased immediately after ferumoxytol administration, further increased at one-day, and then decreased but remained elevated (P < 0.001). The mean change from baseline showed no significant difference between the SC group and the IT group at all scan time points. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrates the feasibility of quantitative ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI to measure dynamics of ferumoxytol delivery and washout in the placenta. Stable MRI measurements indicated no evidence of iron deposition in fetal tissues of nonhuman primates after maternal ferumoxytol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ante Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Scott B Reeder
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kevin M Johnson
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sydney M Nguyen
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sean B Fain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ian M Bird
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Thaddeus G Golos
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Oliver Wieben
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Dinesh M Shah
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Diego Hernando
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
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Rivera-Rivera LA, Schubert T, Johnson KM. Measurements of cerebral blood volume using quantitative susceptibility mapping, R 2 * relaxometry, and ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2019; 32:e4175. [PMID: 31482602 PMCID: PMC6868300 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI holds potential for the non-invasive assessment of vascular architecture using estimates of cerebral blood volume (CBV). Ferumoxytol specifically enables steady-state imaging with extended acquisition times, for substantial improvements in resolution and contrast-to-noise ratio. With such data, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) can be used to obtain images of local tissue magnetic susceptibility and hence estimate the increase in blood susceptibility after administration of a contrast agent, which in turn can be correlated to tissue CBV. Here, we explore the use of QSM for CBV estimation and compare it with R2 * (1/T2 *)-based results. Institutional review board approval was obtained, and all subjects provided written informed consent. For this prospective study, MR images were acquired on a 3.0 T scanner in 19 healthy subjects using a multiple-echo T2 *-weighted sequence. Scanning was performed before and after the administration of two doses of ferumoxytol (1 mg FE/kg and 4 mg FE/kg). Different QSM approaches were tested on numerical phantom simulations. Results showed that the accuracy of magnetic susceptibility measurements improved with increasing image resolution and decreasing vascular density. In vivo changes in magnetic susceptibility were measured after the administration of ferumoxytol utilizing QSM, and significantly higher QSM-based CBV was measured in gray matter compared with white matter. QSM- and R2 *-based CBV estimates correlated well, with similar average values, but a larger variance was found in QSM-based estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo A Rivera-Rivera
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705-2275, USA
| | - Tilman Schubert
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Basel University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kevin M Johnson
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705-2275, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705-2275, USA
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Zhu A, Reeder SB, Johnson KM, Nguyen SM, Golos TG, Shimakawa A, Muehler MR, Francois CJ, Bird IM, Fain SB, Shah DM, Wieben O, Hernando D. Evaluation of a motion-robust 2D chemical shift-encoded technique for R2* and field map quantification in ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI of the placenta in pregnant rhesus macaques. J Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 51:580-592. [PMID: 31276263 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 3D chemical shift-encoded (CSE)-MRI techniques enable assessment of ferumoxytol concentration but are unreliable in the presence of motion. PURPOSE To evaluate a motion-robust 2D-sequential CSE-MRI for R2* and B0 mapping in ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI of the placenta. STUDY TYPE Prospective. ANIMAL MODEL Pregnant rhesus macaques. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3.0T/CSE-MRI. ASSESSMENT 2D-sequential CSE-MRI was compared with 3D respiratory-gated CSE-MRI in placental imaging of 11 anesthetized animals at multiple timepoints before and after ferumoxytol administration, and in ferumoxytol phantoms (0 μg/mL-440 μg/mL). Motion artifacts of CSE-MRI in 10 pregnant women without ferumoxytol administration were assessed retrospectively by three blinded readers (4-point Likert scale). The repeatability of CSE-MRI in seven pregnant women was also prospectively studied. STATISTICAL TESTS Placental R2* and boundary B0 field measurements (ΔB0) were compared between 2D-sequential and 3D respiratory-gated CSE-MRI using linear regression and Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS In phantoms, a slope of 0.94 (r2 = 0.99, concordance correlation coefficient ρ = 0.99), and bias of -4.8 s-1 (limit of agreement [LOA], -41.4 s-1 , +31.8 s-1 ) in R2*, and a slope of 1.07 (r2 = 1.00, ρ = 0.99) and bias of 11.4 Hz (LOA -12.0 Hz, +34.8 Hz) in ΔB0 were obtained in 2D CSE-MRI compared with 3D CSE-MRI for reference R2* ≤390 s-1 . In animals, a slope of 0.92 (r2 = 0.97, ρ = 0.98) and bias of -2.2 s-1 (LOA -55.6 s-1 , +51.3 s-1 ) in R2*, and a slope of 1.05 (r2 = 0.95, ρ = 0.97) and bias of 0.4 Hz (LOA -9.0 Hz, +9.7 Hz) in ΔB0 were obtained. In humans, motion-impaired R2* maps in 3D CSE-MRI (Reader 1: 1.8 ± 0.6, Reader 2: 1.3 ± 0.7, Reader 3: 1.9 ± 0.6), while 2D CSE-MRI was motion-free (Reader 1: 2.9 ± 0.3, Reader 2: 3.0 ± 0, Reader 3: 3.0 ± 0). A mean difference of 0.66 s-1 and coefficient of repeatability of 9.48 s-1 for placental R2* were observed in the repeated 2D CSE-MRI. DATA CONCLUSION 2D-sequential CSE-MRI provides accurate R2* and B0 measurements in ferumoxytol-enhanced placental MRI of animals in the presence of respiratory motion, and motion-robustness in human placental imaging. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:580-592.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ante Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Scott B Reeder
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kevin M Johnson
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sydney M Nguyen
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Thaddeus G Golos
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ann Shimakawa
- Global MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Matthias R Muehler
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Ian M Bird
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sean B Fain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Dinesh M Shah
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Oliver Wieben
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Diego Hernando
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Rivera-Rivera LA, Johnson KM, Turski PA, Wieben O, Schubert T. Measurement of microvascular cerebral blood volume changes over the cardiac cycle with ferumoxytol-enhanced T 2 * MRI. Magn Reson Med 2019; 81:3588-3598. [PMID: 30756424 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This feasibility study investigates the non-invasive measurement of microvascular cerebral blood volume (BV) changes over the cardiac cycle using cardiac-gated, ferumoxytol-enhanced T 2 ∗ MRI. METHODS Institutional review board approval was obtained and all subjects provided written informed consent. Cardiac gated MR scans were prospectively acquired on a 3.0T scanner in 22 healthy subjects using T 2 ∗ -weighted sequences with 2D-EPI and 3D spiral trajectories. Images were collected before and after the intravenous administration of 2 doses of ferumoxytol (1 mg FE/kg and 4 mg FE/kg). Cardiac cycle-induced R 2 ∗ (1/ T 2 ∗ ) changes (Δ R 2 ∗ ) and BV changes (ΔBV) throughout the cardiac cycle in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) were quantified and differences assessed using ANOVA followed by post hoc analysis. RESULTS Δ R 2 ∗ was found to increase in a dose-dependent fashion. A significantly larger increase was observed in GM compared to WM in both 2D and 3D acquisitions (P < 0.050). In addition, Δ R 2 ∗ increased significantly (P < 0.001) post versus pre-contrast injection in GM in both T 2 ∗ MRI acquisitions. Mean GM Δ R 2 ∗ derived from 2D-EPI images was 0.14 ± 0.06 s-1 pre-contrast and 0.33 ± 0.13 s-1 after 5 mg FE/kg. In WM, Δ R 2 ∗ was 0.19 ± 0.06 s-1 pre-contrast, and 0.23 ± 0.06 s-1 after 5 mg FE/kg. The fractional changes in BV throughout the cardiac cycle were 0.031 ± 0.019% in GM and 0.011 ± 0.008% in WM (P < 0.001) after 5 mg FE/kg. CONCLUSION Cardiac-gated, ferumoxytol-enhanced T 2 ∗ MRI enables characterization of microvascular BV changes throughout the cardiac cycle in GM and WM tissue of healthy subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo A Rivera-Rivera
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kevin M Johnson
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.,Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Patrick A Turski
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.,Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Oliver Wieben
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.,Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Tilman Schubert
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Basel University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
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Quarles CC, Bell LC, Stokes AM. Imaging vascular and hemodynamic features of the brain using dynamic susceptibility contrast and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. Neuroimage 2018; 187:32-55. [PMID: 29729392 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.04.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of neurologic disorders, dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI provide valuable insights into cerebral vascular function, integrity, and architecture. Even after two decades of use, these modalities continue to evolve as their biophysical and kinetic basis is better understood, with improvements in pulse sequences and accelerated imaging techniques and through application of more robust and automated data analysis strategies. Here, we systematically review each of these elements, with a focus on how their integration improves kinetic parameter accuracy and the development of new hemodynamic biomarkers that provide sub-voxel sensitivity (e.g., capillary transit time and flow heterogeneity). Regarding contrast mechanisms, we discuss the dipole-dipole interactions and susceptibility effects that give rise to simultaneous T1, T2 and T2∗ relaxation effects, including their quantification, influence on pulse sequence parameter optimization, and use in methods such as vessel size and vessel architectural imaging. The application of technologic advancements, such as parallel imaging, simultaneous multi-slice, undersampled k-space acquisitions, and sliding window strategies, enables improved spatial and/or temporal resolution of DSC and DCE acquisitions. Such acceleration techniques have also enabled the implementation of, clinically feasible, simultaneous multi-echo spin- and gradient echo acquisitions, providing more comprehensive and quantitative interrogation of T1, T2 and T2∗ changes. Characterizing these relaxation rate changes through different post-processing options allows for the quantification of hemodynamics and vascular permeability. The application of different biophysical models provides insight into traditional hemodynamic parameters (e.g., cerebral blood volume) and more advanced parameters (e.g., capillary transit time heterogeneity). We provide insight into the appropriate selection of biophysical models and the necessary post-processing steps to ensure reliable measurements while minimizing potential sources of error. We show representative examples of advanced DSC- and DCE-MRI methods applied to pathologic conditions affecting the cerebral microcirculation, including brain tumors, stroke, aging, and multiple sclerosis. The maturation and standardization of conventional DSC- and DCE-MRI techniques has enabled their increased integration into clinical practice and use in clinical trials, which has, in turn, spurred renewed interest in their technological and biophysical development, paving the way towards a more comprehensive assessment of cerebral hemodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Chad Quarles
- Division of Neuro imaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Laura C Bell
- Division of Neuro imaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Ashley M Stokes
- Division of Neuro imaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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