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Beirinckx Q, Bladt P, van der Plas MCE, van Osch MJP, Jeurissen B, den Dekker AJ, Sijbers J. Model-based super-resolution reconstruction for pseudo-continuous Arterial Spin Labeling. Neuroimage 2024; 286:120506. [PMID: 38185186 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a promising, non-invasive perfusion magnetic resonance imaging technique for quantifying cerebral blood flow (CBF). Unfortunately, ASL suffers from an inherently low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spatial resolution, undermining its potential. Increasing spatial resolution without significantly sacrificing SNR or scan time represents a critical challenge towards routine clinical use. In this work, we propose a model-based super-resolution reconstruction (SRR) method with joint motion estimation that breaks the traditional SNR/resolution/scan-time trade-off. From a set of differently oriented 2D multi-slice pseudo-continuous ASL images with a low through-plane resolution, 3D-isotropic, high resolution, quantitative CBF maps are estimated using a Bayesian approach. Experiments on both synthetic whole brain phantom data, and on in vivo brain data, show that the proposed SRR Bayesian estimation framework outperforms state-of-the-art ASL quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinten Beirinckx
- imec-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Piet Bladt
- imec-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Merlijn C E van der Plas
- C.J. Gorter MRI Center, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Matthias J P van Osch
- C.J. Gorter MRI Center, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ben Jeurissen
- imec-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Lab for Equilibrium Investigations and Aerospace, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Arnold J den Dekker
- imec-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan Sijbers
- imec-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Saïb G, Koretsky AP, Talagala SL. Optimization of pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling using off-resonance compensation strategies at 7T. Magn Reson Med 2021; 87:1720-1730. [PMID: 34775619 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29070] [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: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The sensitivity of pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) to off-resonance effects (ΔB0 ) is a major limitation at ultra-high field (≥7T). The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of different PCASL ΔB0 compensation methods at 7T and measure the labeling efficiency with off-resonance correction. THEORY AND METHODS Phase offset errors induced by ΔB0 at the feeding arteries can be compensated by adding an extra radiofrequency (RF) phase increment and transverse gradient blips into the PCASL RF pulse train. The effectiveness of an average field correction (AVGcor), a vessel-specific field-map-based correction (FMcor) and a vessel-specific prescan-based correction (PScor) were compared at 7T. After correction, the PCASL labeling efficiency was directly measured in feeding arteries downstream from the labeling location. RESULTS The perfusion signal was more uniform throughout the brain after off-resonance correction. Whole-brain average perfusion signal increased by a factor of 2.4, 2.5, and 2.1, respectively, with AVGcor, FMcor and PScor compared to acquisitions without correction. With off-resonance correction, the maximum labeling efficiency was ~0.68 at mean B1 (B1mean ) of 0.70 µT when using a mean gradient (Gmean ) of 0.25 mT/m. CONCLUSION Either a prescan or a field map can be used to correct for off-resonance effects and retrieve a good brain perfusion signal at 7T. Although the three methods performed well in this study, FMcor may be better suited for patient studies because it accounted for vessel-specific ΔB0 variations. Further improvements in image quality will be possible by optimizing the labeling efficiency with advanced hardware and software while satisfying specific absorption rate constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Saïb
- NINDS/LFMI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alan P Koretsky
- NINDS/LFMI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Meixner CR, Eisen CK, Schmitter S, Müller M, Herrler J, Hensel B, Dörfler A, Uder M, Nagel AM. Hybrid B 1 + -shimming and gradient adaptions for improved pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling at 7 Tesla. Magn Reson Med 2021; 87:207-219. [PMID: 34411335 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28982] [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: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To improve pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pcASL) at 7T by exploiting a hybrid homogeneity- and efficiency-optimized B 1 + -shim with adapted gradient strength as well as background suppression. METHODS The following three experiments were performed at 7T, each employing five volunteers: (1) A hybrid (ie, homogeneity-efficiency optimized) B 1 + -shim was introduced and evaluated for variable-rate selective excitation pcASL labeling. Therefore, B 1 + -maps in the V3 segment and time-of-flight images were acquired to identify the feeding arteries. For validation, a gradient-echo sequence was applied in circular polarized (CP) mode and with the hybrid B 1 + -shim. Additionally, the gray matter (temporal) signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR) in pcASL perfusion images was evaluated. (2) Bloch simulations for the pcASL labeling were conducted and validated experimentally, with a focus on the slice-selective gradients. (3) Background suppression was added to the B 1 + -shimmed, gradient-adapted 7T sequence and this was then compared to a matched sequence at 3T. RESULTS The B 1 + -shim improved the signal within the labeling plane (23.6%) and the SNR/tSNR increased (+11%/+11%) compared to its value in CP mode; however, the increase was not significant. In accordance with the simulations, the adapted gradients increased the tSNR (35%) and SNR (45%) significantly. Background suppression further improved the perfusion images at 7T, and this protocol performed as well as a resolution-matched protocol at 3T. CONCLUSION The combination of the proposed hybrid B 1 + -phase-shim with the adapted slice-selective gradients and background suppression shows great potential for improved pcASL labeling under suboptimal B 1 + conditions at 7T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Meixner
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian K Eisen
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany.,Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Max Müller
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Herrler
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hensel
- Center for Medical Physics and Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arnd Dörfler
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Uder
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Armin M Nagel
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.,Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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Callewaert B, Jones EAV, Himmelreich U, Gsell W. Non-Invasive Evaluation of Cerebral Microvasculature Using Pre-Clinical MRI: Principles, Advantages and Limitations. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11060926. [PMID: 34064194 PMCID: PMC8224283 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11060926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations to the cerebral microcirculation have been recognized to play a crucial role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders. However, the exact role of the microvascular alterations in the pathophysiological mechanisms often remains poorly understood. The early detection of changes in microcirculation and cerebral blood flow (CBF) can be used to get a better understanding of underlying disease mechanisms. This could be an important step towards the development of new treatment approaches. Animal models allow for the study of the disease mechanism at several stages of development, before the onset of clinical symptoms, and the verification with invasive imaging techniques. Specifically, pre-clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool for the development and validation of MRI sequences under clinically relevant conditions. This article reviews MRI strategies providing indirect non-invasive measurements of microvascular changes in the rodent brain that can be used for early detection and characterization of neurodegenerative disorders. The perfusion MRI techniques: Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE), Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast Enhanced (DSC) and Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL), will be discussed, followed by less established imaging strategies used to analyze the cerebral microcirculation: Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM), Vascular Space Occupancy (VASO), Steady-State Susceptibility Contrast (SSC), Vessel size imaging, SAGE-based DSC, Phase Contrast Flow (PC) Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) and quantitative Blood-Oxygenation-Level-Dependent (qBOLD). We will emphasize the advantages and limitations of each strategy, in particular on applications for high-field MRI in the rodent's brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram Callewaert
- Biomedical MRI Group, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, bus 505, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (B.C.); (W.G.)
- CMVB, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, bus 911, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Elizabeth A. V. Jones
- CMVB, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, bus 911, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- CARIM, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI Group, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, bus 505, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (B.C.); (W.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Willy Gsell
- Biomedical MRI Group, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, bus 505, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (B.C.); (W.G.)
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Tong Y, Jezzard P, Okell TW, Clarke WT. Improving PCASL at ultra-high field using a VERSE-guided parallel transmission strategy. Magn Reson Med 2020; 84:777-786. [PMID: 31971634 PMCID: PMC7216913 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To improve the labeling efficiency of pseudo‐continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) at 7T using parallel transmission (pTx). Methods Five healthy subjects were scanned on an 8‐channel‐transmit 7T human MRI scanner. Time‐of‐flight (TOF) angiography was acquired to identify regions of interest (ROIs) around the 4 major feeding arteries to the brain, and B1+ and B0 maps were acquired in the labeling plane for tagging pulse design. Complex weights of the labeling pulses for each of the 8 transmit channels were calculated to produce a homogenous radiofrequency (RF) ‐shimmed labeling across the ROIs. Variable‐Rate Selective Excitation (VERSE) pulses were also implemented as a part of the labeling pulse train. Whole‐brain perfusion‐weighted images were acquired under conditions of RF shimming, VERSE with RF shimming, and standard circularly polarized (CP) mode. The same subjects were scanned on a 3T scanner for comparison. Results In simulation, VERSE with RF shimming improved the flip‐angles across the ROIs in the labeling plane by 90% compared with CP mode. VERSE with RF shimming improved the temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio by 375% compared with CP mode, but did not outperform a matched 3T sequence with a matched flip‐angle. Conclusion We have demonstrated improved PCASL tagging at 7T using VERSE with RF shimming on a commercial head coil under conservative SAR limits at 7T. However, improvements of 7T over 3T may require strategies with less conservative SAR restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Tong
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Jezzard
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas W Okell
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - William T Clarke
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
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The advantages of radial trajectories for vessel-selective dynamic angiography with arterial spin labeling. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2019; 32:643-653. [PMID: 31422519 PMCID: PMC6825642 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-019-00771-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To demonstrate the advantages of radial k-space trajectories over conventional Cartesian approaches for accelerating the acquisition of vessel-selective arterial spin labeling (ASL) dynamic angiograms, which are conventionally time consuming to acquire. MATERIALS AND METHODS Vessel-encoded pseudocontinuous ASL was combined with time-resolved balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) and spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) readouts to obtain dynamic vessel-selective angiograms arising from the four main brain-feeding arteries. Dynamic 2D protocols with acquisition times of one minute or less were achieved through radial undersampling or a Cartesian parallel imaging approach. For whole-brain dynamic 3D imaging, magnetic field inhomogeneity and the high acceleration factors required rule out the use of bSSFP and Cartesian trajectories, so the feasibility of acquiring 3D radial SPGR angiograms was tested. RESULTS The improved SNR efficiency of bSSFP over SPGR was confirmed for 2D dynamic imaging. Radial trajectories had considerable advantages over a Cartesian approach, including a factor of two improvements in the measured SNR (p < 0.00001, N = 6), improved distal vessel delineation and the lack of a need for calibration data. The 3D radial approach produced good quality angiograms with negligible artifacts despite the high acceleration factor (R = 13). CONCLUSION Radial trajectories outperform conventional Cartesian techniques for accelerated vessel-selective ASL dynamic angiography.
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