Nie Y, Lu N, Liao L, Liu Z, Gu A, Huang X, Tie C, Liu H, Huang Z, Xie G. Black-Blood Magnetization Prepared 2 Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echoes: A Fast and Three-Dimensional MR Black-Blood T
1 Mapping Technique for Quantitative Assessment of Atherosclerosis and Venous Thrombosis.
J Magn Reson Imaging 2024;
60:1148-1162. [PMID:
38009385 DOI:
10.1002/jmri.29156]
[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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Blood flow signals may be a confounder in quantifying T1 values of plaque or thrombus and how to realize black-blood T1 mapping remains a challenge task.
PURPOSE
To develop a fast and three-dimensional black-blood T1 mapping technique for quantitative assessment of atherosclerosis and venous thrombosis.
STUDY TYPE
Sequence development and optimization via phantoms and volunteers as well as pilot prospective.
PHANTOM AND SUBJECTS
Numerical simulations, a standard phantom, 8 healthy volunteers (mean age, 22 ± 1 years; 5 males), and 19 patients (mean age, 57 ± 14 years; 13 males) with atherosclerosis or venous thrombosis.
FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE
3T/inversion recovery spin-echo sequence (IR-SE), magnetization prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient echoes (MP2RAGE), and black-blood prepared MP2RAGE (BB-MP2RAGE).
ASSESSMENT
The black-blood preparation (i.e., delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation, DANTE) was incorporated into MP2RAGE for black-blood T1 mapping. The BB-MP2RAGE was optimized numerically based on the Bloch equation, and then the phantom study was performed to verify the accuracy of T1 mapping by BB-MP2RAGE against IR-SE and MP2RAGE. Preliminary clinical validation was prospectively performed to assess the flow suppression effect and its potential application in plaque and thrombosis identification.
STATISTICAL TESTS
Pearson correlation test, Bland-Altman analysis, paired t-test, and intraclass correlation coefficient. A P value <0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference.
RESULTS
Phantom experiments showed comparable accuracy of T1 maps by BB-MP2RAGE with IR-SE and MP2RAGE (all r2 > 0.99); Compared to MP2RAGE, BB-MP2RAGE effectively nulled the blood flow signals, and had a significant improvement in contrast-to-noise ratio between static tissue and blood (250.5 ± 66.6 vs. 91.9 ± 35.9). BB-MP2RAGE can quantify plaque or thrombus T1 relaxation time with blood flow signal suppression.
DATA CONCLUSION
Accurate T1 mapping with sufficient blood flow suppression was achieved by BB-MP2RAGE. BB-MP2RAGE has the potential to quantitatively characterize atherosclerosis and venous thrombosis.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.
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