A comparison of T2*-weighted magnitude and phase imaging for measuring the arterial input function in the rat aorta following intravenous injection of gadolinium contrast agent

Abstract Objective In dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI (DSC-MRI), an arterial input function (AIF) is required to quantify perfusion. However, estimation of the concentration of contrast agent (CA) from magnitude MRI signal data is challenging. A reasonable alternative would be to quantify CA concentration using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), as the CA alters the magnetic susceptibility in proportion to its concentration. Material and methods AIFs with reasonable appearance, selected on the basis of conventional criteria related to timing, shape, and peak concentration, were registered from both ΔR2* and QSM images and mutually compared by visual inspection. Both ΔR2*- and QSM-based AIFs were used for perfusion calculations based on tissue concentration data from ΔR2*as well as QSM images. Results AIFs based on ΔR2* and QSM data showed very similar shapes and the estimated cerebral blood flow values and mean transit times were similar. Analysis of corresponding ΔR2* versus QSM-based concentration estimates yielded a transverse relaxivity estimate of 89 s−1 mM−1, for voxels identified as useful AIF candidate in ΔR2* images according to the conventional criteria. Discussion Interestingly, arterial concentration time curves based on ΔR2* versus QSM data, for a standard DSC-MRI experiment, were generally very similar in shape, and the relaxivity obtained in voxels representing blood was similar to tissue relaxivity obtained in previous studies.

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Gadolinium contrast agent is of limited value for magnetic resonance imaging assessment of synovial hypertrophy in hemophiliacs

Acta Radiologica ◽

10.1080/02841850701280775 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 520-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

B. Lundin ◽

E. Berntorp ◽

H. Pettersson ◽

R. Wirestam ◽

K. Jonsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Contrast Agent ◽

Dynamic Mri ◽

Time Interval ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Mri Findings ◽

Gadolinium Contrast ◽

Synovial Hypertrophy ◽

Gadolinium Contrast Agent

Purpose: To examine the influence of different doses of gadolinium contrast agent on synovial enhancement, to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of synovial hypertrophy and radiographic joint changes in hemophiliacs, and to investigate the value of gadolinium in MRI assessment of synovial hypertrophy in hemophiliacs using dynamic MRI and MRI scoring. Material and Methods: Twenty-one hemophiliacs on prophylactic factor treatment without recent bleeds were subjected to radiography and gadolinium contrast-enhanced dynamic and static MRI of the knee using a standard dose of 0.1 mmol/kg b.w. gadoteridol. In 17 of the patients, the MRI procedure was repeated after a triple dose of gadoteridol. Results: MRI findings of synovial hypertrophy were significantly correlated with Pettersson radiographic scores. In 19 of the 21 MRI investigated joints, administration of contrast agent did not alter the result of the evaluation of synovial hypertrophy. Conclusion: The optimal time interval for volume assessment of synovial hypertrophy after injection of gadolinium contrast agent is dose dependent. Hemophiliacs without recent bleeds have minor to abundant synovial hypertrophy in joints with pronounced radiographic changes. Dynamic MRI is not useful for evaluating hemophilic arthropathy, and gadolinium contrast agent is not routinely indicated for MRI scoring of joints in hemophiliacs.

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