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Feddersen TV, Poot DHJ, Paulides MM, Salim G, van Rhoon GC, Hernandez-Tamames JA. Multi-echo gradient echo pulse sequences: which is best for PRFS MR thermometry guided hyperthermia? Int J Hyperthermia 2023; 40:2184399. [PMID: 36907223 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2023.2184399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE MR thermometry (MRT) enables noninvasive temperature monitoring during hyperthermia treatments. MRT is already clinically applied for hyperthermia treatments in the abdomen and extremities, and devices for the head are under development. In order to optimally exploit MRT in all anatomical regions, the best sequence setup and post-processing must be selected, and the accuracy needs to be demonstrated. METHODS MRT performance of the traditionally used double-echo gradient-echo sequence (DE-GRE, 2 echoes, 2D) was compared to multi-echo sequences: a 2D fast gradient-echo (ME-FGRE, 11 echoes) and a 3D fast gradient-echo sequence (3D-ME-FGRE, 11 echoes). The different methods were assessed on a 1.5 T MR scanner (GE Healthcare) using a phantom cooling down from 59 °C to 34 °C and unheated brains of 10 volunteers. In-plane motion of volunteers was compensated by rigid body image registration. For the ME sequences, the off-resonance frequency was calculated using a multi-peak fitting tool. To correct for B0 drift, the internal body fat was selected automatically using water/fat density maps. RESULTS The accuracy of the best performing 3D-ME-FGRE sequence was 0.20 °C in phantom (in the clinical temperature range) and 0.75 °C in volunteers, compared to DE-GRE values of 0.37 °C and 1.96 °C, respectively. CONCLUSION For hyperthermia applications, where accuracy is more important than resolution or scan-time, the 3D-ME-FGRE sequence is deemed the most promising candidate. Beyond its convincing MRT performance, the ME nature enables automatic selection of internal body fat for B0 drift correction, an important feature for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa V Feddersen
- Department of Radiotherapy, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk H J Poot
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Margarethus M Paulides
- Department of Radiotherapy, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Electromagnetics for Care & Cure Research Lab, Center for Care and Cure Technologies Eindhoven (C3Te), Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ghassan Salim
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard C van Rhoon
- Department of Radiotherapy, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Reactor Institute Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Juan A Hernandez-Tamames
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Imaging Physics, Applied Physics Faculty, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
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Scotti AM, Damen F, Gao J, Li W, Liew CW, Cai Z, Zhang Z, Cai K. Phase-independent thermometry by Z-spectrum MR imaging. Magn Reson Med 2022; 87:1731-1741. [PMID: 34752646 PMCID: PMC10029969 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Z-spectrum imaging, defined as the consecutive collection of images after saturating over a range of frequency offsets, has been recently proposed as a method to measure the fat-water fraction by the simultaneous detection of fat and water resonances. By incorporating a binomial pulse irradiated at each offset before the readout, the spectral selectivity of the sequence can be further amplified, making it possible to monitor the subtle proton resonance frequency shift that follows a change in temperature. METHODS We tested the hypothesis in aqueous and cream phantoms and in healthy mice, all under thermal challenge. The binomial module consisted of 2 sinc-shaped pulses of opposite phase separated by a delay. Such a delay served to spread out off-resonance spins, with the resulting excitation profile being a periodic function of the delay and the chemical shift. RESULTS During heating experiments, the water resonance shifted downfield, and by fitting the curve to a sine function it was possible to quantify the change in temperature. Results from Z-spectrum imaging correlated linearly with data from conventional MRI techniques like T1 mapping and phase differences from spoiled GRE. CONCLUSION Because the measurement is performed solely on magnitude images, the technique is independent of phase artifacts and is therefore applicable in mixed tissues (e.g., fat). We showed that Z-spectrum imaging can deliver reliable temperature change measurement in both muscular and fatty tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro M. Scotti
- Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Frederick Damen
- Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jin Gao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Weiguo Li
- Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Chong Wee Liew
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Zimeng Cai
- School of Medical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Image Processing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoli Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Kejia Cai
- Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Zhang L, Armstrong T, Li X, Wu HH. A variable flip angle golden-angle-ordered 3D stack-of-radial MRI technique for simultaneous proton resonant frequency shift and T 1 -based thermometry. Magn Reson Med 2019; 82:2062-2076. [PMID: 31257639 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop and evaluate a variable-flip-angle golden-angle-ordered 3D stack-of-radial MRI technique for simultaneous proton resonance frequency shift (PRF) and T1 -based thermometry in aqueous and adipose tissues, respectively. METHODS The proposed technique acquires multiecho radial k-space data in segments with alternating flip angles to measure 3D temperature maps dynamically on the basis of PRF and T1 . A sliding-window k-space weighted image contrast filter is used to increase temporal resolution. PRF is measured in aqueous tissues and T1 in adipose tissues using fat/water masks. The accuracy for T1 quantification was evaluated in a reference T1 /T2 phantom. In vivo nonheating experiments were conducted in healthy subjects to evaluate the stability of PRF and T1 in the brain, prostate, and breast. The proposed technique was used to monitor high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation in ex vivo porcine fat/muscle tissues and compared to temperature probe readings. RESULTS The proposed technique achieved 3D coverage with 1.1-mm to 1.3-mm in-plane resolution and 2-s to 5-s temporal resolution. During 20 to 30 min of nonheating in vivo scans, the temporal coefficient of variation for T1 was <5% in the brain, prostate, and breast fatty tissues, while the standard deviation of relative PRF temperature change was within 3°C in aqueous tissues. During ex vivo HIFU ablation, the temperatures measured by PRF and T1 were consistent with temperature probe readings, with an absolute mean difference within 2°C. CONCLUSION The proposed technique achieves simultaneous PRF and T1 -based dynamic 3D MR temperature mapping in aqueous and adipose tissues. It may be used to improve MRI-guided thermal procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Zhang
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Tess Armstrong
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Physics in Biology and Medicine Interdepartmental Graduate Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Xinzhou Li
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Holden H Wu
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Physics in Biology and Medicine Interdepartmental Graduate Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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Zou C, Cheng C, Qiao Y, Wan Q, Tie C, Pan M, Liang D, Zheng H, Liu X. Hierarchical iterative linear-fitting algorithm (HILA) for phase correction in fat quantification by bipolar multi-echo sequence. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2019; 9:247-262. [PMID: 30976549 DOI: 10.21037/qims.2019.02.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Multi-echo gradient echo (GRE) sequence with bipolar readout gradients can reduce achievable echo spacing and thus have higher acquisition efficiency compared to unipolar readout gradients for fat fraction (FF) quantification. However, the eddy current induced phase (EC-phase) in a bipolar sequence corrupts the phase consistency between echoes and can lead to inaccurate fat quantification. Methods A hierarchical iterative linear-fitting algorithm (HILA) was proposed for EC-phase correction. In each iteration, image blocks were divided into sub-blocks. The EC-phase was fitted to a linear model in each sub-block. The estimated linear phase in each sub-block was then used as a starting value for the next iteration. Finally, a weighted average over all levels was calculated to obtain the final EC-phase map. Monte Carlo simulations were adopted to evaluate how the residual EC-phase would affect FF quantification accuracy. The performance of the proposed HILA method was then compared to the well-established unipolar acquisition method in phantom and in vivo experiments on 3T. Results The simulations showed that certain ΔTE values, such as ΔTE =~0.80/1.50/1.95 ms, allowed for FF estimation that were relatively robust to the residual EC-phase ranging from -2π/15 to 2π/15 for a 6-echo bipolar acquisition on 3T. The phantom study showed that the maximum mean FF error, after EC-phase correction with the proposed HILA method, was smaller than 2%, implying that HILA can approximate the high-order term of the EC-phase through step-wise linear fitting. There was no significant difference between the FFs from bipolar and unipolar acquisitions on the two MR systems in the in vivo experiments. Conclusions The proposed HILA method provides a simple and efficient EC-phase correction method for bipolar acquisition without acquiring additional data. The appropriate choice of TEs may further reduce the effect of the residual EC-phase on accurate FF quantification with bipolar readout sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zou
- Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chuanli Cheng
- Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yangzi Qiao
- Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qian Wan
- Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Changjun Tie
- Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Min Pan
- Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518049, China
| | - Dong Liang
- Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Hairong Zheng
- Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Minimally-invasive and Noninvasive Medicine, Chongqing 400016, China
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Peng H, Zou C, Cheng C, Tie C, Qiao Y, Wan Q, Lv J, He Q, Liang D, Liu X, Liu W, Zheng H. Fat‐water separation based on Transition REgion Extraction (TREE). Magn Reson Med 2019; 82:436-448. [DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Peng
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
| | - Chao Zou
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Chuanli Cheng
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Changjun Tie
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
| | - Yangzi Qiao
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
| | - Qian Wan
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jianxun Lv
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Qiang He
- Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd Shanghai China
| | - Dong Liang
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Xin Liu
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Wenzhong Liu
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
| | - Hairong Zheng
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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Odéen H, Parker DL. Magnetic resonance thermometry and its biological applications - Physical principles and practical considerations. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2019; 110:34-61. [PMID: 30803693 PMCID: PMC6662927 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Most parameters that influence the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal experience a temperature dependence. The fact that MRI can be used for non-invasive measurements of temperature and temperature change deep inside the human body has been known for over 30 years. Today, MR temperature imaging is widely used to monitor and evaluate thermal therapies such as radio frequency, microwave, laser, and focused ultrasound therapy. In this paper we cover the physical principles underlying the biological applications of MR temperature imaging and discuss practical considerations and remaining challenges. For biological tissue, the MR signal of interest comes mostly from hydrogen protons of water molecules but also from protons in, e.g., adipose tissue and various metabolites. Most of the discussed methods, such as those using the proton resonance frequency (PRF) shift, T1, T2, and diffusion only measure temperature change, but measurements of absolute temperatures are also possible using spectroscopic imaging methods (taking advantage of various metabolite signals as internal references) or various types of contrast agents. Currently, the PRF method is the most used clinically due to good sensitivity, excellent linearity with temperature, and because it is largely independent of tissue type. Because the PRF method does not work in adipose tissues, T1- and T2-based methods have recently gained interest for monitoring temperature change in areas with high fat content such as the breast and abdomen. Absolute temperature measurement methods using spectroscopic imaging and contrast agents often offer too low spatial and temporal resolution for accurate monitoring of ablative thermal procedures, but have shown great promise in monitoring the slower and usually less spatially localized temperature change observed during hyperthermia procedures. Much of the current research effort for ablative procedures is aimed at providing faster measurements, larger field-of-view coverage, simultaneous monitoring in aqueous and adipose tissues, and more motion-insensitive acquisitions for better precision measurements in organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys. For hyperthermia applications, larger coverage, motion insensitivity, and simultaneous aqueous and adipose monitoring are also important, but great effort is also aimed at solving the problem of long-term field drift which gets interpreted as temperature change when using the PRF method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Odéen
- University of Utah, Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, 729 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-1217, USA.
| | - Dennis L Parker
- University of Utah, Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, 729 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-1217, USA.
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