Imaging characteristics of PROPELLER T2-weighted imaging

As the PROPELLER sequence is a combination of the radial scan and fast-spin-echo (FSE) sequence, it can be considered an FSE sequence with a motion correlation. However, there are some differences between PROPELLER and FSE owing to differences in k-space trajectory. We clarified the imaging characteristics of PROPELLER T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) for different parameters in comparison with usual FSE T2WI. When the same parameters were used, PROPELLER T2WI showed a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and lower spatial resolution than usual FSE. Effective echo time (TE) changed with different echo train lengths (ETL) or different bandwidths on PROPELLER, and imaging contrast changed accordingly to be more effective.     

PROPELLER-EPI with parallel imaging using a circularly symmetric phased-array RF coil at 3.0 T: application to high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging.

A technique integrating multishot periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) and parallel imaging is presented for diffusion echo-planar imaging (EPI) at high spatial resolution. The method combines the advantages of parallel imaging to achieve accelerated sampling along the phase-encoding direction, and PROPELLER acquisition to further decrease the echo train length (ETL) in EPI. With an eight-element circularly symmetric RF coil, a parallel acceleration factor of 4 was applied such that, when combined with PROPELLER acquisition, a reduction of geometric distortions by a factor substantially greater than 4 was achieved. The resulting phantom and human brain images acquired with a 256 x 256 matrix and an ETL of only 16 were visually identical in shape to those acquired using the fast spin-echo (FSE) technique, even without field-map corrections. It is concluded that parallel PROPELLER-EPI is an effective technique that can substantially reduce susceptibility-induced geometric distortions at high field strength.     

3T PROPELLER diffusion tensor fiber tractography: a feasibility study for cranial nerve fiber tracking

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER)-based diffusion tensor fiber tractography (DTT) at 3T to visualize infratentorial small fiber structures that cannot be visualized adequately using a conventional single shot echo planar imaging (ssEPI)-based pulse sequence. Materials and methods Four healthy male volunteers were examined in this study. Diffusion tensor images were acquired on a 3T clinical magnetic resonance scanner using PROPELLER and echo planar imaging sequences in six motion-probing gradient orientations. Fiber tracking results for the trigeminal and auditory nerves were compared quantitatively. Results The trigeminal nerve tract was successfully reconstructed using both acquisition methods (100%). Among these reconstructed tracts, 62.5% of the tracts on PROPELLER-DTT and 25% on ssEPI-DTT were followed to branches beyond the trigeminal ganglion. The reconstructed auditory nerve tract could be identified on PROPELER-DTT (62.5%), whereas no tract or only a short tract was obtained on ssEPI-DTT (37.5%). Conclusion 3T PROPELLER-DTT is useful for visualizing infratentorial small neurofiber structures.     

A parallel imaging technique using mutual calibration for split‐blade diffusion‐weighted PROPELLER

Split‐blade diffusion‐weighted periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (DW‐PROPELLER) was proposed to address the issues associated with diffusion‐weighted echo planar imaging such as geometric distortion and difficulty in high‐resolution imaging. The major drawbacks with DW‐PROPELLER are its high SAR (especially at 3T) and violation of the Carr‐Purcell‐Meiboom‐Gill condition, which leads to a long scan time and narrow blade. Parallel imaging can reduce scan time and increase blade width; however, it is very challenging to apply standard k‐space‐based techniques such as GeneRalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisitions (GRAPPA) to split‐blade DW‐PROPELLER due to its narrow blade. In this work, a new calibration scheme is proposed for k‐space‐based parallel imaging method without the need of additional calibration data, which results in a wider, more stable blade. The in vivo results show that this technique is very promising. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effect of motion correction associated with echo train length and number of blades in propeller MRI-computer simulation

The PROPELLER (periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction) MRI method is available with a technique for motion correction. We studied changes in correction according to differences in echo train length (ETL) and number of blades, and measured correction accuracy according to linear translation and rotation, using computer simulation. A T(2)-weighted axial image of the head taken by FSE was utilized as the basic MR image. We reconstructed other images with differences in quantity of motion, ETL, and number of blades, also using computer simulation. After motion correction was performed, we measured correction accuracy with cross-correlation to the basic image. The method of motion correction was performed by the conversion of k-space data for each blade step using 2D Fourier-transform. After motion correction of the obtained image had been carried out, the image was converted to k-space data using reverse Fourier-transform. For data of 30 pixels with horizontal translation, cross-correlation coefficients for the stationary image were 0.6 for FSE without motion correction, 0.74 for the PROPELLER (ETL 8, blades 32) image without motion correction, and 0.99 for the PROPELLER (ETL 8, blades 32) image with motion correction. For data of 24 degrees with rotation, cross-correlation coefficients were 0.38 for FSE without motion correction, 0.53 for the PROPELLER (ETL 8, blades 32) image without motion correction, and 0.93 for the PROPELLER (ETL 8, blades 32) image with motion correction. The cross-correlation coefficient of liner translation is higher than its rotation. Correction accuracy was better with larger numbers of ETL than without motion correction. The spatial resolution of the image was decreased in the corrected image more by rotation than linear translation. This study indicated that the PR method was able to inspect the imaging technique with little influence on movement.     

Evaluation of super paramagnetic iron oxide-enhanced diffusion-weighted PROPELLER T2-fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging: Preliminary experience

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of super paramagnetic iron oxide-enhanced, diffusion-weighted, periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (SPIO DWI PROPELLER) T2-fast spin echo (FSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of hepatic metastases. METHODS: Fourteen patients were examined with SPIO-enhanced T2-FSE (SPIO FSE) imaging and SPIO DWI PROPELLER T2-FSE imaging. The b-value of the diffusion-sensitizing gradient was 10 s/mm so as to suppress the signal of the hepatic vessels. Hepatic resections were performed on all patients, and the number of lesions on MRI was compared between the 2 pulse sequences with references from pathologic reports. RESULTS: Nearly all metastases 1 cm or larger, totalling 38 metastases, were detected with both pulse sequences. Among the 30 metastases less than 1 cm, more lesions were detected on SPIO DWI PROPELLER T2-FSE imaging than on SPIO FSE imaging (16 for SPIO FSE imaging and 24 for DWI PROPELLER T2-FSE imaging; P < 0.05, McNemar test). CONCLUSION: Super paramagnetic iron oxide-enhanced DWI PROPELLER T2-FSE is useful for detecting small hepatic metastases.     

k-space undersampling in PROPELLER imaging.

PROPELLER MRI (periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction) provides images with significantly fewer B(0)-related artifacts than echo-planar imaging (EPI), as well as reduced sensitivity to motion compared to conventional multiple-shot fast spin-echo (FSE). However, the minimum imaging time in PROPELLER is markedly longer than in EPI and 50% longer than in conventional multiple-shot FSE. Often in MRI, imaging time is reduced by undersampling k-space. In the present study, the effects of undersampling on PROPELLER images were evaluated using simulated and in vivo data sets. Undersampling using PROPELLER patterns with reduced number of samples per line, number of lines per blade, or number of blades per acquisition, while maintaining the same k-space field of view (FOV(k)) and uniform sampling at the edges of FOV(k), reduced imaging time but led to severe image artifacts. In contrast, undersampling by means of removing whole blades from a PROPELLER sampling pattern that sufficiently samples k-space produced only minimal image artifacts, mainly manifested as blurring in directions parallel to the blades removed, even when reducing imaging time by as much as 50%. Finally, undersampling using asymmetric blades and taking advantage of Hermitian symmetries to fill-in the missing data significantly reduced imaging time without causing image artifacts.     

MR螺旋桨扫描技术在消除伪影方面的临床应用

目的探讨螺旋桨扫描技术（periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines enhanced reconstruction，PROPELLER）在临床的应用价值。方法对10例健康志愿者在头部晃动状态下、64例头颅MR检查中出现躁动不合作或口腔有固定金属异物的患者，应用PROPELLER技术进行T2WI和（或）扩散加权成像（DWI），与常规T2WI和（或）DWI进行对比。64例患者中，脑梗死40例（其中脑干梗死16例），脑梗死伴脑出血1例，脑转移瘤3例，癫痫、病毒性脑炎和高血压等20例。56例为运动伪影，8例为金属异物引起的磁敏感伪影。结果10例健康志愿者PROPELLER T2W图像质量明显优于常规T2WI。分别对10例志愿者和56例患者的常规T2WI、DWI与PROPELLER T2WI、DWI的图像进行比较，显示因运动产生的伪影，导致图像质量降低，无法达到诊断要求；采用PROPELLER T2WI，均显著消除伪影的影响，病变显示清晰，诊断明确。8例因固定义齿产生的磁敏感伪影，采用PROPELLER DWI，均明显消除伪影干扰，获得有诊断价值的图像。结论应用PROPELLER T2WI、DWI技术，明显消除患者因运动或金属异物造成的伪影，可生成高分辨率、无伪影、具有临床诊断意义的理想图像。     

Motion correction in periodically‐rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) and turboprop MRI

Periodically‐rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) and Turboprop MRI are characterized by greatly reduced sensitivity to motion, compared to their predecessors, fast spin‐echo (FSE) and gradient and spin‐echo (GRASE), respectively. This is due to the inherent self‐navigation and motion correction of PROPELLER‐based techniques. However, it is unknown how various acquisition parameters that determine k‐space sampling affect the accuracy of motion correction in PROPELLER and Turboprop MRI. The goal of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of motion correction in both techniques, to identify an optimal rotation correction approach, and determine acquisition strategies for optimal motion correction. It was demonstrated that blades with multiple lines allow more accurate estimation of motion than blades with fewer lines. Also, it was shown that Turboprop MRI is less sensitive to motion than PROPELLER. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the number of blades does not significantly affect motion correction. Finally, clinically appropriate acquisition strategies that optimize motion correction are discussed for PROPELLER and Turboprop MRI. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Improved motion correction capabilities for fast spin echo T1 FLAIR propeller using non‐Cartesian external calibration data driven parallel imaging

Patient motion is a common challenge in the clinical setting and fast spin echo longitudinal relaxation time fluid attenuating inversion recovery imaging method with motion correction would be highly desirable. The motion correction provided by transverse relaxation time‐ and diffusion‐weighted periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction methods has seen significant clinical adoption. However, periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction with fast spin echo longitudinal relaxation time fluid attenuating inversion recovery‐weighting has proved challenging since motion correction requires wide blades that are difficult to acquire while also maintaining short echo train lengths that are optimal for longitudinal relaxation time fluid attenuating inversion recovery‐weighting. Parallel imaging provides an opportunity to increase the effective blade width for a given echo train lengths. Coil‐by‐coil data‐driven autocalibrated parallel imaging methods provide greater robustness in the event of motion compared to techniques relying on accurate coil sensitivity maps. However, conventional internally calibrated data‐driven parallel imaging methods limit the effective acceleration possible for each blade. We present a method to share a single calibration dataset over all imaging blades on a slice by slice basis using the APPEAR non‐Cartesian parallel imaging method providing an effective blade width increase of 2.45×, enabling robust motion correction. Results comparing the proposed technique to conventional Cartesian and periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction methods demonstrate a significant improvement during subject motion and maintaining high image quality when no motion is present in normal and clinical volunteers. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction-based diffusion tensor imaging. Comparison with echo planar imaging-based diffusion tensor imaging

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) based on periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) compared with DTI based on single-shot echo planar imaging (EPI). METHODS: Diffusion tensor data were acquired with PROPELLER (PROPELLER-DTI, 3 NEX), EPI (EPI-DTI2, 16 NEX) with the same acquisition time (11.4 minutes) and with EPI (EPI-DTI1, number of excitations = 4) with a shorter acquisition time (2.8 minutes). Regions of interest were set in the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, as determined on T2-weighted fast spin echo images and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps, separately. Two neuroradiologists visually evaluated image distortion and quality in the supra- and infratentorial structures. RESULTS: In the genu, standard deviation determined by respective FA maps was decreased in order of PROPELLER-DTI, EPI-DTI1, and EPI-DTI2. Both EPI-DTI sequences were quantitatively superior in the splenium, but PROPELLER-DTI was less distorted. CONCLUSION: Periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction-DTI could become a complementary tool when qualitatively evaluating seriously distorted structures.     

PROPELLER EPI: an MRI technique suitable for diffusion tensor imaging at high field strength with reduced geometric distortions.

A technique suitable for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at high field strengths is presented in this work. The method is based on a periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) k-space trajectory using EPI as the signal readout module, and hence is dubbed PROPELLER EPI. The implementation of PROPELLER EPI included a series of correction schemes to reduce possible errors associated with the intrinsically higher sensitivity of EPI to off-resonance effects. Experimental results on a 3.0 Tesla MR system showed that the PROPELLER EPI images exhibit substantially reduced geometric distortions compared with single-shot EPI, at a much lower RF specific absorption rate (SAR) than the original version of the PROPELLER fast spin-echo (FSE) technique. For DTI, the self-navigated phase-correction capability of the PROPELLER EPI sequence was shown to be effective for in vivo imaging. A higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared to single-shot EPI at an identical total scan time was achieved, which is advantageous for routine DTI applications in clinical practice.     

X‐PROP: A fast and robust diffusion‐weighted propeller technique

Diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) has shown great benefits in clinical MR exams. However, current DWI techniques have shortcomings of sensitivity to distortion or long scan times or combinations of the two. Diffusion‐weighted echo‐planar imaging (EPI) is fast but suffers from severe geometric distortion. Periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction diffusion‐weighted imaging (PROPELLER DWI) is free of geometric distortion, but the scan time is usually long and imposes high Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) especially at high fields. TurboPROP was proposed to accelerate the scan by combining signal from gradient echoes, but the off‐resonance artifacts from gradient echoes can still degrade the image quality. In this study, a new method called X‐PROP is presented. Similar to TurboPROP, it uses gradient echoes to reduce the scan time. By separating the gradient and spin echoes into individual blades and removing the off‐resonance phase, the off‐resonance artifacts in X‐PROP are minimized. Special reconstruction processes are applied on these blades to correct for the motion artifacts. In vivo results show its advantages over EPI, PROPELLER DWI, and TurboPROP techniques. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Brain magnetic resonance imaging at 3 Tesla using BLADE compared with standard rectilinear data sampling

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate Periodically Rotated Overlapping ParallEL Lines with Enhanced Reconstruction (PROPELLER; BLADE) data acquisition in comparison with standard k-space sampling techniques for axial and sagittal brain imaging at 3 T regarding imaging artifacts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients who gave consent were included in a prospective comparison of standard and PROPELLER (BLADE) k-space sampling techniques. All examinations were performed at 3 T with comparison of standard T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) to PROPELLER T2-weighted FLAIR in the axial image orientation and standard T1-weighted gradient echo to PROPELLER T1-weighted FLAIR in the sagittal image orientation. Imaging protocols were matched for spatial resolution, with data evaluation performed by 2 experienced neuroradiologists. Image data were compared regarding various image artifacts and overall image quality. Reader agreement was assessed by Cohen's kappa statistics. RESULTS: PROPELLER T2-weighted axial data acquisition showed significantly less pulsation and Gibb's artifacts than the standard T2-weighted scan. Even without motion correction, the frequency of ghosting (motion) artifacts was substantially lower in the PROPELLER T2-weighted data and readers concordantly (kappa = 1) rated PROPELLER as better than or equal to the standard T2-weighted scan in the majority of cases (95%; P < 0.0001). In the comparison of sagittal T1-weighted data sets, readers showed only fair agreement (kappa = 0.24) and noted consistent wrap artifacts in PROPELLER T1-weighted FLAIR. CONCLUSION: PROPELLER (BLADE) brain magnetic resonance imaging is also applicable at 3 T. In addition to minimizing motion artifacts, the PROPELLER acquisition scheme reduces other magnetic resonance artifacts that would otherwise degrade scan quality.     

3D GRASE PROPELLER: Improved image acquisition technique for arterial spin labeling perfusion imaging

Arterial spin labeling is a noninvasive technique that can quantitatively measure cerebral blood flow. While traditionally arterial spin labeling employs 2D echo planar imaging or spiral acquisition trajectories, single‐shot 3D gradient echo and spin echo (GRASE) is gaining popularity in arterial spin labeling due to inherent signal‐to‐noise ratio advantage and spatial coverage. However, a major limitation of 3D GRASE is through‐plane blurring caused by T₂ decay. A novel technique combining 3D GRASE and a periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction trajectory (PROPELLER) is presented to minimize through‐plane blurring without sacrificing perfusion sensitivity or increasing total scan time. Full brain perfusion images were acquired at a 3 × 3 × 5 mm³ nominal voxel size with pulsed arterial spin labeling preparation sequence. Data from five healthy subjects was acquired on a GE 1.5T scanner in less than 4 minutes per subject. While showing good agreement in cerebral blood flow quantification with 3D gradient echo and spin echo, 3D GRASE PROPELLER demonstrated reduced through‐plane blurring, improved anatomical details, high repeatability and robustness against motion, making it suitable for routine clinical use. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Modified PROPELLER approach for T2‐mapping of the abdomen

Quantitative abdominal T₂ measurements may be useful for lesion differentiation and functional tissue characterization. However, T₂ mapping of the abdomen with conventional spin‐echo (SE) and turbo‐spin‐echo (TSE) approaches can be challenging due to physiologic motion artifacts. Multishot TSE‐based PROPELLER (Periodically Rotated Overlapping ParallEL Lines with Enhanced Reconstruction) can provide superior image quality due to reduced sensitivity to motion artifacts. With echo‐reordering to accurately estimate effective echo times and an extended slice thickness ratio to reduce stimulated echo effects, a modified PROPELLER approach may permit accurate, robust abdominal T₂ measurements. We validated the accuracy of our modified PROPELLER T₂‐mapping approach by comparison to conventional SE measurements in a phantom model and demonstrated the feasibility of acquiring accurate, high‐quality abdominal T₂ maps in normal volunteers. Magn Reson Med 61:1269–1278, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Multishot diffusion-weighted SPLICE PROPELLER MRI of the abdomen.

Multishot FSE (fast spin echo)-based diffusion-weighted (DW)-PROPELLER (periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction) MRI offers the potential to reduce susceptibility artifacts associated with single-shot DW-EPI (echo-planar imaging) approaches. However, DW-PROPELLER in the abdomen is challenging due to the large field-of-view and respiratory motion during DW preparation. Incoherent signal phase due to motion will violate the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) conditions, leading to destructive interference between spin echo and stimulated echo signals and consequent signal cancellation. The SPLICE (split-echo acquisition of FSE signals) technique can mitigate non-CPMG artifacts in FSE-based sequences. For SPLICE, spin echo and stimulated echo are separated by using imbalanced readout gradients and extended acquisition window. Two signal families each with coherent phase properties are acquired at different intervals within the readout window. Separate reconstruction of these two signal families can avoid destructive phase interference. Phantom studies were performed to validate signal phase properties with different initial magnetization phases. This study evaluated the feasibility of combining SPLICE and PROPELLER for DW imaging of the abdomen. It is demonstrated that DW-SPLICE-PROPELLER can effectively mitigate non-CPMG artifacts and improve DW image quality and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map homogeneity.     

Multishot PROPELLER for high‐field preclinical MRI

With the development of numerous mouse models of cancer, there is a tremendous need for an appropriate imaging technique to study the disease evolution. High‐field T₂‐weighted imaging using PROPELLER (Periodically Rotated Overlapping ParallEL Lines with Enhanced Reconstruction) MRI meets this need. The two‐shot PROPELLER technique presented here provides (a) high spatial resolution, (b) high contrast resolution, and (c) rapid and noninvasive imaging, which enables high‐throughput, longitudinal studies in free‐breathing mice. Unique data collection and reconstruction makes this method robust against motion artifacts. The two‐shot modification introduced here retains more high‐frequency information and provides higher signal‐to‐noise ratio than conventional single‐shot PROPELLER, making this sequence feasible at high fields, where signal loss is rapid. Results are shown in a liver metastases model to demonstrate the utility of this technique in one of the more challenging regions of the mouse, which is the abdomen. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Optimizing conventional MR imaging of the spine

With the use of conventional spin-echo pulse sequences with a long repetition time (TR), the echo time (TE) and the number of echoes were varied to minimize cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow artifacts in a spine phantom and in cervical spines of three volunteers. The following echo trains were compared in both axial and sagittal planes with a TR of 2,000 msec: TE of 25, 80 msec ("asymmetric"); TE of 40, 80 msec ("symmetric long TE"); and TE of 20, 40, 60, and 80 msec ("symmetric short TE"). Variable degrees of even-echo rephasing of CSF flow artifacts were observed during sagittal but not axial imaging, depending on the echo train used. Even-echo rephasing was most complete with the symmetric short-TE echo train, less complete with the symmetric long-TE echo train, and absent with the asymmetric echo train. Switching the orientation of the phase and frequency encoding gradients and slightly modifying TR on the basis of the heart rate further improved image quality. The results suggest that a symmetric short-TE echo train may be used to provide velocity compensation (similar to that observed with rephasing gradients) on even echoes of conventional spin-echo pulse sequences during spine imaging.     

Simultaneous echo refocusing in EPI.

A method to encode multiple two-dimensional Fourier transform (2D FT) images within a single echo train is presented. This new method, simultaneous echo refocusing (SER), is a departure from prior echo planar image (EPI) sequences which use repeated single-shot echo trains for multislice imaging. SER simultaneously acquires multiple slices in a single-shot echo train utilizing a shared refocusing process. The SER technique acquires data faster than conventional multislice EPI since it uses fewer gradient switchings and fewer preparation pulses such as diffusion gradients. SER introduces a new capability to simultaneously record multiple spatially separated sources of physiologic information in subsecond image acquisitions, which enables several applications that are dependent on temporal coherence in MRI data including velocity vector field mapping and brain activation mapping.