Evaluation of single bolus, dual-echo dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI protocols in brain tumor patients

Authors

Ashley M. Stokes, Barrow Neurological Institute
Maurizio Bergamino, Barrow Neurological InstituteFollow
Lea Alhilali, Barrow Neurological InstituteFollow
Leland S. Hu, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale-Phoenix, Arizona
John P. Karis, Barrow Neurological InstituteFollow
Leslie C. Baxter, Barrow Neurological InstituteFollow
Laura C. Bell, Barrow Neurological Institute
C. Chad Quarles, Barrow Neurological Institute

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) obtained from dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI is adversely impacted by contrast agent leakage in brain tumors. Using simulations, we previously demonstrated that multi-echo DSC-MRI protocols provide improvements in contrast agent dosing, pulse sequence flexibility, and rCBV accuracy. The purpose of this study is to assess the in-vivo performance of dual-echo acquisitions in patients with brain tumors (n = 59). To verify pulse sequence flexibility, four single-dose dual-echo acquisitions were tested with variations in contrast agent dose, flip angle, and repetition time, and the resulting dual-echo rCBV was compared to standard single-echo rCBV obtained with preload (double-dose). Dual-echo rCBV was comparable to standard double-dose single-echo protocols (mean (standard deviation) tumor rCBV 2.17 (1.28) vs. 2.06 (1.20), respectively). High rCBV similarity was observed (CCC = 0.96), which was maintained across both flip angle (CCC = 0.98) and repetition time (CCC = 0.96) permutations, demonstrating that dual-echo acquisitions provide flexibility in acquisition parameters. Furthermore, a single dual-echo acquisition was shown to enable quantification of both perfusion and permeability metrics. In conclusion, single-dose dual-echo acquisitions provide similar rCBV to standard double-dose single-echo acquisitions, suggesting contrast agent dose can be reduced while providing significant pulse sequence flexibility and complementary tumor perfusion and permeability metrics.

Keywords

Brain tumors, dual-echo, dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC), perfusion, permeability

Publication Date

12-1-2021

Publication Title

Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism

ISSN

0271678X

E-ISSN

15597016

Volume

41

Issue

12

First Page

3378

Last Page

3390

PubMed ID

34415211

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1177/0271678X211039597

Recommended Citation

Stokes, Ashley M.; Bergamino, Maurizio; Alhilali, Lea; Hu, Leland S.; Karis, John P.; Baxter, Leslie C.; Bell, Laura C.; and Quarles, C. Chad, "Evaluation of single bolus, dual-echo dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI protocols in brain tumor patients" (2021). Translational Neuroscience. 1184.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurobiology/1184