Ronnie Wirestam
Professor
Mapping magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) in human brain at 7T : Protocol optimization under specific absorption rate constraints
Författare
Summary, in English
Purpose:
To optimize a whole-brain magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) protocol
at 7T, focusing on maximizing obtainable MTsat under the constraints of specific
absorption rate (SAR) and transmit field inhomogeneity, while avoiding bias and keeping scan time short.
Theory and Methods:
MTsat is a semi-quantitative metric, obtained by spoiled gradient-echo MRI in the imaging steady-state. Optimization was based on an established 7T dual flip angle protocol, and focused on MT pulse, readout flip angle, repetition time (TR), offset frequency (Δ), and correction of residual effects from transmit field inhomogeneities by separate flip angle mapping.
Results:
A 100% SAR level was reached at a 180° MT pulse flip angle, using a compact sinc main lobe (4 ms duration) and minimum TR = 26.5 ms. The use of Δ = +2.0 kHz caused no discernible direct saturation, while Δ = −2.0 kHz resulted in 45% higher MTsat in white matter (WM) compared to Δ = +2.0 kHz. A 4° readout flip angle eliminated bias while yielding a good signal-to-noise ratio. Increased TR yielded only a little increase in MTsat, and TR = 26.5 ms (scan time 04:58 min) was thus selected. Post hoc transmit field correction clearly improved homogeneity, especially in WM.
Conclusions:
The range of MTsat is limited at 7T, and this can partly be overcome by the exploitation of the asymmetry of the macromolecular lineshape through the sign of Δ. To reduce scan time, a compact MT pulse with a sufficiently narrow frequency response should be used. TR and readout flip angle should be kept short/small. Transmit field correction through separate flip angle mapping is required.
To optimize a whole-brain magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) protocol
at 7T, focusing on maximizing obtainable MTsat under the constraints of specific
absorption rate (SAR) and transmit field inhomogeneity, while avoiding bias and keeping scan time short.
Theory and Methods:
MTsat is a semi-quantitative metric, obtained by spoiled gradient-echo MRI in the imaging steady-state. Optimization was based on an established 7T dual flip angle protocol, and focused on MT pulse, readout flip angle, repetition time (TR), offset frequency (Δ), and correction of residual effects from transmit field inhomogeneities by separate flip angle mapping.
Results:
A 100% SAR level was reached at a 180° MT pulse flip angle, using a compact sinc main lobe (4 ms duration) and minimum TR = 26.5 ms. The use of Δ = +2.0 kHz caused no discernible direct saturation, while Δ = −2.0 kHz resulted in 45% higher MTsat in white matter (WM) compared to Δ = +2.0 kHz. A 4° readout flip angle eliminated bias while yielding a good signal-to-noise ratio. Increased TR yielded only a little increase in MTsat, and TR = 26.5 ms (scan time 04:58 min) was thus selected. Post hoc transmit field correction clearly improved homogeneity, especially in WM.
Conclusions:
The range of MTsat is limited at 7T, and this can partly be overcome by the exploitation of the asymmetry of the macromolecular lineshape through the sign of Δ. To reduce scan time, a compact MT pulse with a sufficiently narrow frequency response should be used. TR and readout flip angle should be kept short/small. Transmit field correction through separate flip angle mapping is required.
Avdelning/ar
- Medicinsk strålningsfysik, Lund
- MR Physics
- Lund University Bioimaging Center
Publiceringsår
2021-06-30
Språk
Engelska
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Ämne
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
- Other Physics Topics
Status
Published
Projekt
- Gradient echo-based quantitative MRI of human brain at 7T
- Multiparametric mapping of the brain at 7T using gradient echoes
Forskningsgrupp
- MR Physics
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1522-2594