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Drenthen GS, Elschot EP, van der Knaap N, Uher D, Voorter PHM, Backes WH, Jansen JFA, van der Thiel MM. Imaging Interstitial Fluid With MRI: A Narrative Review on the Associations of Altered Interstitial Fluid With Vascular and Neurodegenerative Abnormalities. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 60:40-53. [PMID: 37823526 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29056] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Interstitial fluid (ISF) refers to the fluid between the parenchymal cells and along the perivascular spaces (PVS). ISF plays a crucial role in delivering nutrients and clearing waste products from the brain. This narrative review focuses on the use of MRI techniques to measure various ISF characteristics in humans. The complementary value of contrast-enhanced and noncontrast-enhanced techniques is highlighted. While contrast-enhanced MRI methods allow measurement of ISF transport and flow, they lack quantitative assessment of ISF properties. Noninvasive MRI techniques, including multi-b-value diffusion imaging, free-water-imaging, T2-decay imaging, and DTI along the PVS, offer promising alternatives to derive ISF measures, such as ISF volume and diffusivity. The emerging role of these MRI techniques in investigating ISF alterations in neurodegenerative diseases (eg, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease) and cerebrovascular diseases (eg, cerebral small vessel disease and stroke) is discussed. This review also emphasizes current challenges of ISF imaging, such as the microscopic scale at which ISF has to be measured, and discusses potential focus points for future research to overcome these challenges, for example, the use of high-resolution imaging techniques. Noninvasive MRI methods for measuring ISF characteristics hold significant potential and may have a high clinical impact in understanding the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disorders, as well as in evaluating the efficacy of ISF-targeted therapies in clinical trials. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard S Drenthen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Elles P Elschot
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Noa van der Knaap
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel Uher
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Paulien H M Voorter
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Walter H Backes
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Merel M van der Thiel
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Drenthen GS, Jansen JFA, van der MM, Voorter PHM, Backes WH. An optimized b-value sampling for the quantification of interstitial fluid using diffusion-weighted MRI, a genetic algorithm approach. Magn Reson Med 2023; 90:194-201. [PMID: 36744716 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Multi-b-value diffusion-weighted MRI techniques can simultaneously measure the parenchymal diffusivity, microvascular perfusion, and a third, intermediate diffusion component. This component is related to the interstitial fluid in the brain parenchyma. However, simultaneously estimating three diffusion components from multi-b-value data is difficult and has strong dependence on SNR and chosen b-values. As the number of acquired b-values is limited due to scanning time, it is important to know which b-values are most effective to be included. Therefore, this study evaluates an optimized b-value sampling for interstitial fluid estimation. METHOD The optimized b-value sampling scheme is determined using a genetic algorithm. Subsequently, the performance of this optimized sampling is assessed by comparing it with a linear, logarithmic, and previously proposed sampling scheme, in terms of the RMS error (RMSE) for the intermediate component estimation. The in vivo performance of the optimized sampling is assessed using 7T data with 101 equally spaced b-values ranging from 0 to 1000 s/mm2 . In this case, the RMSE was determined by comparing the fit that includes all b-values. RESULTS The optimized b-value sampling for estimating the intermediate component was reported to be [0, 30, 90, 210, 280, 350, 580, 620, 660, 680, 720, 760, 980, 990, 1000] s/mm2 . For computer simulations, the optimized sampling had a lower RMSE, compared with the other samplings for varying levels of SNR. For the in vivo data, the voxel-wise RMSE of the optimized sampling was lower compared with other sampling schemes. CONCLUSION The genetic algorithm-optimized b-value scheme improves the quantification of the diffusion component related to interstitial fluid in terms of a lower RMSE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard S Drenthen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Merel M van der
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Paulien H M Voorter
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Walter H Backes
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Mehdizadeh N, Wilman AH. Myelin water fraction mapping from multiple echo spin echoes and an independent B 1 + map. Magn Reson Med 2022; 88:1380-1390. [PMID: 35576121 PMCID: PMC9321077 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Myelin water fraction (MWF) is often obtained from a multiple echo spin echo (MESE) sequence using multi‐component T2 fitting with non‐negative least squares. This process fits many unknowns including B1+ to produce a T2 spectrum for each voxel. Presented is an alternative using a rapid B1+ mapping sequence to supply B1+ for the MWF fitting procedure. Methods Effects of B1+ errors on MWF calculations were modeled for 2D and 3D MESE using Bloch and extended phase graph simulations, respectively. Variations in SNR and relative refocusing widths were tested. Human brain experiments at 3 T used 2D MESE and an independent B1+ map. MWF maps were produced with the standard approach and with the use of the independent B1+ map. Differences in B1+ and mean MWF in specific brain regions were compared. Results For 2D MESE, MWF with the standard method was strongly affected by B1+ misestimations arising from limited SNR and response asymmetry around 180°, which decreased with increasing relative refocusing width. Using an independent B1+ map increased mean MWF and decreased coefficient of variation. Notable differences in vivo in 2D MESE were in areas of high B1+ such as thalamus and splenium where mean MWF increased by 88% and 31%, respectively (P < 0.001). Simulations also demonstrated the advantages of this approach for 3D MESE when SNR is <500. Conclusion For 2D MESE, because of increased complexity of decay curves and limited SNR, supplying B1+ improves MWF results in peripheral and central brain regions where flip angles differ substantially from 180°.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Mehdizadeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alan H Wilman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Fast, Accurate, and Robust T2 Mapping of Articular Cartilage by Neural Networks. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12030688. [PMID: 35328240 PMCID: PMC8947694 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12030688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
For T2 mapping, the underlying mono-exponential signal decay is traditionally quantified by non-linear Least-Squares Estimation (LSE) curve fitting, which is prone to outliers and computationally expensive. This study aimed to validate a fully connected neural network (NN) to estimate T2 relaxation times and to assess its performance versus LSE fitting methods. To this end, the NN was trained and tested in silico on a synthetic dataset of 75 million signal decays. Its quantification error was comparatively evaluated against three LSE methods, i.e., traditional methods without any modification, with an offset, and one with noise correction. Following in-situ acquisition of T2 maps in seven human cadaveric knee joint specimens at high and low signal-to-noise ratios, the NN and LSE methods were used to estimate the T2 relaxation times of the manually segmented patellofemoral cartilage. In-silico modeling at low signal-to-noise ratio indicated significantly lower quantification error for the NN (by medians of 6−33%) than for the LSE methods (p < 0.001). These results were confirmed by the in-situ measurements (medians of 10−35%). T2 quantification by the NN took only 4 s, which was faster than the LSE methods (28−43 s). In conclusion, NNs provide fast, accurate, and robust quantification of T2 relaxation times.
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Li Y, Xiong J, Guo R, Zhao Y, Li Y, Liang ZP. Improved estimation of myelin water fractions with learned parameter distributions. Magn Reson Med 2021; 86:2795-2809. [PMID: 34216050 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To improve estimation of myelin water fraction (MWF) in the brain from multi-echo gradient-echo imaging data. METHODS A systematic sensitivity analysis was first conducted to characterize the conventional exponential models used for MWF estimation. A new estimation method was then proposed for improved estimation of MWF from practical gradient-echo imaging data. The proposed method uses an extended signal model that includes a finite impulse response filter to compensate for practical signal variations. This new model also enables the use of prelearned parameter distributions as well as low-rank signal structures to improve parameter estimation. The resulting parameter estimation problem was solved optimally in the Bayesian sense. RESULTS Our sensitivity analysis results showed that the conventional exponential models were very sensitive to measurement noise and modeling errors. Our simulation and experimental results showed that our proposed method provided a substantial improvement in reliability, reproducibility, and robustness of MWF estimates over the conventional methods. Clinical results obtained from stroke patients indicated that the proposed method, with its improved capability, could reveal the loss of myelin in lesions, demonstrating its translational potentials. CONCLUSION This paper addressed the problem of robust MWF estimation from gradient-echo imaging data. A new method was proposed to provide improved MWF estimation in the presence of significant noise and modeling errors. The performance of the proposed method has been evaluated using both simulated and experimental data, showing significantly improved robustness over the existing methods. The proposed method may prove useful for quantitative myelin imaging in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudu Li
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Jiahui Xiong
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Rong Guo
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Yibo Zhao
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Yao Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Pei Liang
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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Bonny JM, Traore A, Bouhrara M, Spencer RG, Pages G. Parsimonious discretization for characterizing multi-exponential decay in magnetic resonance. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2020; 33:e4366. [PMID: 32789944 PMCID: PMC9648165 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We address the problem of analyzing noise-corrupted magnetic resonance transverse decay signals as a superposition of underlying independently decaying monoexponentials of positive amplitude. First, we indicate the manner in which this is an ill-conditioned inverse problem, rendering the analysis unstable with respect to noise. Second, we define an approach to this analysis, stabilized solely by the nonnegativity constraint without regularization. This is made possible by appropriate discretization, which is coarser than that often used in practice. Thirdly, we indicate further stabilization by inspecting the plateaus of cumulative distributions. We demonstrate our approach through analysis of simulated myelin water fraction measurements, and compare the accuracy with more conventional approaches. Finally, we apply our method to brain imaging data obtained from a human subject, showing that our approach leads to maps of the myelin water fraction which are much more stable with respect to increasing noise than those obtained with conventional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marie Bonny
- INRAE, UR QuaPA, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
- AgroResonance, INRAE, 2018, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility for Agronomy, Food and Health, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Amidou Traore
- INRAE, UR QuaPA, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
- AgroResonance, INRAE, 2018, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility for Agronomy, Food and Health, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | | | | | - Guilhem Pages
- INRAE, UR QuaPA, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
- AgroResonance, INRAE, 2018, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility for Agronomy, Food and Health, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
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Lee J, Lee D, Choi JY, Shin D, Shin H, Lee J. Artificial neural network for myelin water imaging. Magn Reson Med 2019; 83:1875-1883. [DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Lee
- Laboratory for Imaging Science and Technology Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea
| | - Doohee Lee
- Laboratory for Imaging Science and Technology Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Yul Choi
- Laboratory for Imaging Science and Technology Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea
- Cleveland Clinic, Epilepsy Center Neurological Institute Cleveland Ohio
| | - Dongmyung Shin
- Laboratory for Imaging Science and Technology Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeong‐Geol Shin
- Laboratory for Imaging Science and Technology Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea
| | - Jongho Lee
- Laboratory for Imaging Science and Technology Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea
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Drenthen GS, Backes WH, Aldenkamp AP, Op 't Veld GJ, Jansen JFA. A new analysis approach for T 2 relaxometry myelin water quantification: Orthogonal Matching Pursuit. Magn Reson Med 2018; 81:3292-3303. [PMID: 30444019 PMCID: PMC6587563 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Purpose In vivo myelin quantification can provide valuable noninvasive information on neuronal maturation and development, as well as insights into neurological disorders. Multiexponential analysis of multiecho T2 relaxation is a powerful and widely applied method for the quantification of the myelin water fraction (MWF). In recent literature, the MWF is most commonly estimated using a regularized nonnegative least squares algorithm. Methods The orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm is proposed as an alternative method for the estimation of the MWF. The orthogonal matching pursuit is a greedy sparse reconstruction algorithm with a low computation complexity. For validation, both methods are compared to a ground truth using numerical simulations and a phantom model using comparable computation times. The numerical simulations were used to measure the theoretical errors, as well as the effects of varying the SNR, strength of the regularization, and resolution of the basis set. Additionally, a phantom model was used to estimate the performance of the 2 methods while including errors occurring due to the MR measurement. Lastly, 4 healthy subjects were scanned to evaluate the in vivo performance. Results The results in simulations and phantoms demonstrate that the MWFs determined with the orthogonal matching pursuit are 1.7 times more accurate as compared to the nonnegative least squares, with a comparable precision. The remaining bias of the MWF is shown to be related to the regularization of the nonnegative least squares algorithm and the Rician noise present in magnitude MR images. Conclusion The orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm provides a more accurate alternative for T2 relaxometry myelin water quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard S Drenthen
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, De Rondom 70, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Walter H Backes
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Albert P Aldenkamp
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Behavioral Sciences, Epilepsy Center Kempenhaeghe, Sterkselseweg 65, Heeze, the Netherlands
| | - Giel J Op 't Veld
- School of Computer and Communication Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 14, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, De Rondom 70, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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