Multi-band whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging with inversion recovery fat saturation: Effects of respiratory compensation

Abstract Object In this work, we present a technique called simultaneous multi-contrast imaging (SMC) to acquire multiple contrasts within a single measurement. Simultaneous multi-slice imaging (SMS) shortens scan time by allowing the repetition time (TR) to be reduced for a given number of slices. SMC imaging preserves TR, while combining different scan types into a single acquisition. This technique offers new opportunities in clinical protocols where examination time is a critical factor and multiple image contrasts must be acquired. Materials and methods High-resolution, navigator-corrected, diffusion-weighted imaging was performed simultaneously with T2*-weighted acquisition at 3 T in a phantom and in five healthy subjects using an adapted readout-segmented EPI sequence (rs-EPI). Results The results demonstrated that simultaneous acquisition of two contrasts (here diffusion-weighted imaging and T2*-weighting) with SMC imaging is feasible with robust separation of contrasts and minimal effect on image quality. Discussion The simultaneous acquisition of multiple contrasts reduces the overall examination time and there is an inherent registration between contrasts. By using the results of this study to control saturation effects in SMC, the method enables rapid acquisition of distortion-matched and well-registered diffusion-weighted and T2*-weighted imaging, which could support rapid diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke.

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Rhombencephalitis in Children: Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Correlation With Clinical Outcomes

Journal of Child Neurology ◽

10.1177/0883073820904480 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 404-409

Author(s):

Alex Mun-Ching Wong ◽

Chih-Hua Yeh ◽

Jainn-Jim Lin ◽

I-Jun Chou ◽

Kuang-Lin Lin

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Diffusion Weighted Imaging ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Inversion Recovery ◽

Unfavorable Outcome ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽

Diffusion Weighted ◽

Disturbance Of Consciousness ◽

Outcome Group ◽

Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery

In children with rhombencephalitis, neuroimaging abnormalities have been infrequently correlated with clinical outcome. We investigated whether magnetic resonance (MR) neuroimaging studies could predict clinical outcomes and disturbance of consciousness in patients with rhombencephalitis. We retrospectively analyzed the MR studies of 19 pediatric patients with rhombencephalitis (median age: 4.2 years, range 0.5-17; sex: 32% male). Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging findings were graded to create imaging scores according to the extent of imaging abnormality. Clinical outcomes in the first week and 12th month were graded by using Glasgow Outcome Scale scores (1-5) and dichotomized to unfavorable or favorable outcome. Correlations of the imaging scores with the clinical outcomes and with disturbance of consciousness were assessed by using multivariate logistic regression analysis. No significant correlation was found between fluid-attenuated inversion recovery score or diffusion-weighted imaging score ( P = .608, P = .132, respectively) and disturbance of consciousness. In the first week, the unfavorable outcome group (n = 11) had significantly higher diffusion-weighted imaging score than did the favorable outcome group (n = 8) (Mann-Whitney U test, P = .005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the diffusion-weighted imaging score (odds ratio, 18.182; 95% confidence interval: 1.36, 243.01; P = .028) was significantly associated with unfavorable outcome. In the 12th month, the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery score or diffusion-weighted imaging score ( P = .994, P = .997, respectively) were not significantly associated with unfavorable outcome. Patients with rhombencephalitis who have a higher diffusion-weighted imaging score are more likely to have an unfavorable 1-week clinical outcome.

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