Development of a spiral spin- and gradient-echo (spiral-SAGE) approach for improved multi-parametric dynamic contrast neuroimaging
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a spiral-based combined spin- and gradient-echo (spiral-SAGE) method for simultaneous dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE-MRI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI (DSC-MRI). Methods: Using this sequence, we obtained gradient-echo TEs of 1.69 and 26 ms, a SE TE of 87.72 ms, with a TR of 1663 ms. Using an iterative SENSE reconstruction followed by deblurring, spiral-induced image artifacts were minimized. Healthy volunteer images are shown to demonstrate image quality using the optimized reconstruction, as well as for comparison with EPI-based SAGE. A bioreactor phantom was used to compare dynamic-contrast time courses with both spiral-SAGE and EPI-SAGE. A proof-of-concept cohort of patients with brain tumors shows the range of hemodynamic maps available using spiral-SAGE. Results: Comparison of spiral-SAGE images with conventional EPI-SAGE images illustrates substantial reductions of image distortion and artifactual image intensity variations. Bioreactor phantom data show similar dynamic contrast time courses between standard EPI-SAGE and spiral-SAGE for the second and third echoes, whereas first-echo data show improvements in quantifying T1 changes with shorter echo times. In a cohort of patients with brain tumors, spiral-SAGE–based perfusion and permeability maps are shown with comparison with the standard single-echo EPI perfusion map. Conclusion: Spiral-SAGE provides a substantial improvement for the assessment of perfusion and permeability by mitigating artifacts typically encountered with EPI and by providing a shorter echo time for improved characterization of permeability. Spiral-SAGE enables quantification of perfusion, permeability, and vessel architectural parameters, as demonstrated in brain tumors.
Keywords
brain tumors, dynamic susceptibility contrast, perfusion imaging, spin and gradient echo, spiral
Publication Date
12-1-2021
Publication Title
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
ISSN
07403194
E-ISSN
15222594
Volume
86
Issue
6
First Page
3082
Last Page
3095
PubMed ID
34288112
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1002/mrm.28933
Recommended Citation
Stokes, Ashley M.; Ragunathan, Sudarshan; Robison, Ryan K.; Fuentes, Alberto; Bell, Laura C.; Karis, John P.; Pipe, James G.; and Quarles, C. Chad, "Development of a spiral spin- and gradient-echo (spiral-SAGE) approach for improved multi-parametric dynamic contrast neuroimaging" (2021). Translational Neuroscience. 1182.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurobiology/1182