Dual‐echo arteriovenography imaging with 7T MRI

Purpose:

To implement a dual‐echo sequence MRI technique at 7T for simultaneous acquisition of time‐of‐flight (TOF) MR angiogram (MRA) and blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) MR venogram (MRV) in a single MR acquisition and to compare the image qualities with those acquired at 3T.

Materials and Methods:

We implemented a dual‐echo sequence with an echo‐specific k‐space reordering scheme to uncouple the scan parameter requirements for MRA and MRV at 7T. The MRA and MRV vascular contrast was enhanced by maximally separating the k‐space center regions acquired for the MRA and MRV and by adjusting and applying scan parameters compatible between the MRA and MRV. The same imaging sequence was implemented at 3T. Four normal subjects were imaged at both 3T and 7T. MRA and MRV at 7T were reconstructed both with and without phase‐mask filtering and were compared quantitatively and qualitatively with those at 3T with phase‐mask filtering.

Results:

The depiction of small cortical arteries and veins on MRA and MRV at 7T was substantially better than that at 3T, due to about twice higher contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) for both arteries (164 ±57 vs. 77 ± 26) and veins (72 ± 8 vs. 36 ± 6). Even without use of the phase‐masking filtering, the venous contrast at 7T (65 ± 7) was higher than that with the filtering at 3T (36 ± 6).

Conclusion:

The dual‐echo arteriovenography technique we implemented at 7T allows the improved visualization of small vessels in both the MRA and MRV because of the greatly increased signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and susceptibility contrast, compared to 3T. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;31:255–261. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Non‐contrast‐enhanced vascular magnetic resonance imaging using flow‐dependent preparation with subtraction

Recent concerns over contrast agent safety have encouraged new developments in non‐contrast‐enhanced vascular imaging techniques. This work investigates the potential for imaging both arteries and veins with vascular anatomy by nonenhanced static subtraction angiography (VANESSA), a method using controllable flow suppression together with subtraction of bright‐ and dark‐blood images. The lower legs of eight healthy volunteers and three patients were imaged using a modified motion‐sensitized driven equilibrium preparation, with three‐dimensional balanced steady‐state free precession readout. The vascular signal decreased with increasing motion‐suppression gradient amplitude, and was suppressed when the velocity‐encoding parameter was (approximately) less than the measured flow velocity. Selected pairs of images were subtracted to depict vessels with either fast flow (e.g. arteries), slow flow (e.g. veins), or both. Several methodological modifications improved image quality and reduced the background signal from static tissues. Subjectively assessed image quality in volunteers was rated as excellent for 56/64 arterial segments, and good or excellent for 35/64 veins. In conclusion, VANESSA enables rapid non‐contrast‐enhanced imaging of arteries and veins, combining information on both morphology and flow. This study demonstrates good technical performance in volunteers and evaluation in patients with vascular disease is warranted. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hybrid of opposite‐contrast MR angiography (HOP‐MRA) combining time‐of‐flight and flow‐sensitive black‐blood contrasts

For the purpose of visualizing low‐flow as well as high‐flow blood vessels without using contrast agents, we propose a new technique called a hybrid of opposite‐contrast MR angiography (HOP‐MRA). HOP‐MRA is a combination of standard time‐of‐flight (TOF) using a full first‐order velocity‐compensation for white‐blood (WB) and flow‐sensitive black‐blood (FSBB) techniques, which use motion‐probing gradients to introduce intravoxel flow dephasing. A dual‐echo three‐dimensional gradient echo sequence was used to reduce both imaging time and misregistration. HOP‐MRA images were obtained using a simple‐weighted subtraction (SWS) or a frequency‐weighted subtraction (FWS) applying different spatial filtering for WB and BB images. We then assessed the relationships among the contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNR) of the blood‐to‐background signals for those three images. In both volunteer and clinical brain studies, low‐flow vessels were well visualized and the background signal was well suppressed by HOP‐MRA compared with standard TOF‐ or BB‐MRA. The FWS was better than the SWS when whole‐maximum intensity projection was performed on a larger volume including with different types of tissue. The proposed HOP‐MRA was proven to visualize low‐flow to high‐flow vessels and, therefore, demonstrates excellent potential to become a clinically useful technique, especially for visualizing collateral vessels which is difficult with standard TOF‐MRA. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

3D magnetization‐prepared imaging using a stack‐of‐rings trajectory

Efficient acquisition strategies for magnetization‐prepared imaging based on the three‐dimensional (3D) stack‐of‐rings k‐space trajectory are presented in this work. The 3D stack‐of‐rings can be acquired with centric ordering in all three dimensions for greater efficiency in capturing the desired contrast. In addition, the 3D stack‐of‐rings naturally supports spherical coverage in k‐space for shorter scan times while achieving isotropic spatial resolution. While non‐Cartesian trajectories generally suffer from greater sensitivity to system imperfections, the 3D stack‐of‐rings can enhance magnetization‐prepared imaging with a high degree of robustness to timing delays and off‐resonance effects. As demonstrated with phantom scans, timing errors and gradient delays only cause a bulk rotation of the 3D stack‐of‐rings reconstruction. Furthermore, each ring can be acquired with a time‐efficient retracing design to resolve field inhomogeneities and enable fat/water separation. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the 3D stack‐of‐rings are considered for the case of inversion‐recovery‐prepared structural brain imaging. Experimental results show that the 3D stack‐of‐rings can achieve higher signal‐to‐noise ratio and higher contrast‐to‐noise ratio within a shorter scan time when compared to the standard inversion‐recovery‐prepared sequence based on 3D Cartesian encoding. The design principles used for this specific case of inversion‐recovery‐prepared brain imaging can be applied to other magnetization‐prepared imaging applications. Magn Reson Med 63:1210–1218, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

3D flow‐independent peripheral vessel wall imaging using T2‐prepared phase‐sensitive inversion‐recovery steady‐state free precession

Purpose:

To develop a 3D flow‐independent peripheral vessel wall imaging method using T₂‐prepared phase‐sensitive inversion‐recovery (T₂PSIR) steady‐state free precession (SSFP).

Materials and Methods:

A 3D T₂‐prepared and nonselective inversion‐recovery SSFP sequence was designed to achieve flow‐independent blood suppression for vessel wall imaging based on T₁ and T₂ properties of the vessel wall and blood. To maximize image contrast and reduce its dependence on the inversion time (TI), phase‐sensitive reconstruction was used to restore the true signal difference between vessel wall and blood. The feasibility of this technique for peripheral artery wall imaging was tested in 13 healthy subjects. Image signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), wall/lumen contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR), and scan efficiency were compared between this technique and conventional 2D double inversion recovery – turbo spin echo (DIR‐TSE) in eight subjects.

Results:

3D T₂PSIR SSFP provided more efficient data acquisition (32 slices and 64 mm in 4 minutes, 7.5 seconds per slice) than 2D DIR‐TSE (2–3 minutes per slice). SNR of the vessel wall and CNR between vessel wall and lumen were significantly increased as compared to those of DIR‐TSE (P < 0.001). Vessel wall and lumen areas of the two techniques are strongly correlated (intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.975 and 0.937, respectively; P < 0.001 for both). The lumen area of T₂PSIR SSFP is slightly larger than that of DIR‐TSE (P = 0.008). The difference in vessel wall area between the two techniques is not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

T₂PSIR SSFP is a promising technique for peripheral vessel wall imaging. It provides excellent blood signal suppression and vessel wall/lumen contrast. It can cover a 3D volume efficiently and is flow‐ and TI‐independent. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;32:399–408. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Phase enhancement for time‐of‐flight and flow‐sensitive black‐blood MR angiography

A magnitude‐based MR angiography method of standard time‐of‐flight (TOF) employing a three‐dimensional gradient‐echo sequence with flow rephasing is widely used. A recently proposed flow‐sensitive black‐blood (FSBB) method combining three‐dimensional gradient‐echo sequence with a flow‐dephasing gradient and a hybrid technique, called hybrid of opposite‐contrast, allow depiction of smaller blood vessels than does standard TOF. To further enhance imaging of smaller vessels, a new enhancement technique combining phase with magnitude is proposed. Both TOF and FSBB pulse sequences were used with only 0th‐order gradient moment nulling, and suitable dephasing gradients were added to increase the phase shift introduced mainly by flow. Magnitude‐based vessel‐to‐background contrast‐to‐noise ratios in TOF and FSBB were further enhanced to increase the dynamic range between positive and negative signals through the use of cosine‐function‐based filters for white‐ and black‐blood imaging. The proposed phase‐enhancement processing both improved visualization of slow‐flow vessels in the brains of volunteer subjects with shorter echo time in TOF, FSBB, and hybrid of opposite‐contrast and reduced wraparound artifacts with smaller b values without sacrificing vessel‐to‐background contrast in FSBB. This method of enhancement processing has excellent potential to become clinically useful. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Hybrid of opposite‐contrast MRA of the brain by combining time‐of‐flight and black‐blood sequences: Initial experience in major trunk stenoocclusive diseases

Purpose:

To assess the feasibility of a new MR angiography (MRA) technique named hybrid of opposite‐contrast MRA (HOP MRA) that combined the time‐of‐flight (TOF) MRA with a flow‐sensitive black‐blood (FSBB) sequence in the diagnosis of major trunk stenoocclusive diseases.

Materials and Methods:

On a 1.5 Tesla imager using a dual‐echo three‐dimensional (3D)‐gradient‐echo sequence, we obtained the first echo for TOF MRA followed by the second echo for FSBB. We then subtracted the FSBB data set from that of TOF MRA followed by maximum intensity projection. In four normal volunteers and 19 patients with chronic stenoocclusive disease of the major trunk, we performed HOP MRA along with 3D‐TOF MRA and compared the findings.

Results:

In the volunteer group, the HOP MRA technique improved the demonstration of distal arterial branches. In 12 of the 19 patients, the HOP MRA better visualized branches distal to the lesion as well as distal branches of normal trunks than 3D‐TOF MRA, while both techniques provided equivalent depiction of branches distal to the lesion but better depiction of normal distal branches in three patients.

Conclusion:

The HOP‐MRA technique is promising in major trunk stenoocclusive diseases as it better demonstrates distal branches probably representing collaterals than 3D‐TOF MRA. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;31:56–60. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Non‐contrast‐enhanced MR angiography for selective visualization of the hepatic vein and inferior vena cava with true steady‐state free‐precession sequence and time‐spatial labeling inversion pulses: Preliminary results

Purpose

To selectively visualize the hepatic vein and inferior vena cava (IVC) using three‐dimensional (3D) true steady‐state free‐precession (SSFP) MR angiography with time‐spatial labeling inversion pulse (T‐SLIP), and to optimize the acquisition protocol.

Materials and Methods

Respiratory‐gated 3D true SSFP scans were conducted in 23 subjects in combination with two different T‐SLIPs (one placed in the thorax to suppress the arterial signal and the other in the abdomen to suppress the portal venous signal). One of the most important factors was the inversion time (TI) of abdominal T‐SLIP, and the image quality was evaluated at four different TIs of 800, 1200, 1600, and 2000 msec in terms of relative signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR), and mean visualization scores.

Results

No significant difference was observed in SNR and CNR between each TI. However, IVC visualization scores were better at TIs of 1600 and 2000 msec, and overall image quality was better at TIs of 1200 and 1600 msec. Therefore, the TI of 1600 msec was considered to provide the optimal balance between IVC visualization and signal suppression of the portal vein in our protocol.

Conclusion

True SSFP scan with T‐SLIPs enabled selective visualization of the hepatic vein and IVC without an exogenous contrast agent. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:474–479. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Deep vein thrombosis using noncontrast‐enhanced MR venography with electrocardiographically gated three‐dimensional half‐fourier FSE: Preliminary experience

Three noncontrast‐enhanced MR venography techniques are presented for assessing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) at 0.5T in patients with metallic implants. Two cardiac‐gated 3D half‐Fourier FSE fresh blood imaging sequences with flow‐refocusing pulses (FR‐FBI) in the read‐out (RO) direction and without FR pulses (non‐FR‐FBI) were developed for slower‐flowing blood. For faster flowing blood, a swap phase‐encode arterial double‐subtraction elimination (SPADE) technique was developed. The three techniques were assessed both quantitatively using signal‐to‐noise (SNR) and contrast‐noise‐ratio (CNR) measurements and qualitatively by subjective image analysis in 15 volunteers. SPADE was compared to FR‐FBI in the pelvic veins and FR‐FBI was compared to non‐FR‐FBI in the thigh and calf veins. Both SPADE and FR‐FBI techniques produced significantly higher SNRs, CNRs, and image quality in each comparative study (P < 0.001). Five patients with metallic implants and confirmed DVT underwent SPADE (pelvic veins) and FR‐FBI (thigh and calf veins) examinations and the results were compared to conventional venography. The SPADE and FR‐FBI images showed all DVTs from all five patients without interference from implant susceptibility artifacts. The excellent image quality produced by both SPADE and FR‐FBI throughout peripheral vasculature demonstrates their promise for detecting DVT in postsurgery patients. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

High‐resolution magnetic resonance angiography in the mouse using a nanoparticle blood‐pool contrast agent

High‐resolution magnetic resonance angiography is already a useful tool for studying mouse models of human disease. Magnetic resonance angiography in the mouse is typically performed using time‐of‐flight contrast. In this work, a new long‐circulating blood‐pool contrast agent—a liposomal nanoparticle with surface‐conjugated gadolinium (SC‐Gd liposomes)—was evaluated for use in mouse neurovascular magnetic resonance angiography. A total of 12 mice were imaged. Scan parameters were optimized for both time‐of‐flight and SC‐Gd contrast. Compared to time‐of‐flight contrast, SC‐Gd liposomes (0.08 mmol/kg) enabled improved small‐vessel contrast‐to‐noise ratio, larger field of view, shorter scan time, and imaging of venous structures. For a limited field of view, time‐of‐flight and SC‐Gd were not significantly different; however, SC‐Gd provided better contrast‐to‐noise ratio when the field of view encompassed the whole brain (P < 0.001) or the whole neurovascular axis (P < 0.001). SC‐Gd allowed acquisition of high‐resolution magnetic resonance angiography (52 × 52 × 100 micrometer³ or 0.27 nL), with 123% higher (P < 0.001) contrast‐to‐noise ratio in comparable scan time (～45 min). Alternatively, SC‐Gd liposomes could be used to acquire high‐resolution magnetic resonance angiography (0.27 nL) with 32% higher contrast‐to‐noise ratio (P < 0.001) in 75% shorter scan time (12 min). Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Comprehensive quantification of signal‐to‐noise ratio and g‐factor for image‐based and k‐space‐based parallel imaging reconstructions

Parallel imaging reconstructions result in spatially varying noise amplification characterized by the g‐factor, precluding conventional measurements of noise from the final image. A simple Monte Carlo based method is proposed for all linear image reconstruction algorithms, which allows measurement of signal‐to‐noise ratio and g‐factor and is demonstrated for SENSE and GRAPPA reconstructions for accelerated acquisitions that have not previously been amenable to such assessment. Only a simple “prescan” measurement of noise amplitude and correlation in the phased‐array receiver, and a single accelerated image acquisition are required, allowing robust assessment of signal‐to‐noise ratio and g‐factor. The “pseudo multiple replica” method has been rigorously validated in phantoms and in vivo, showing excellent agreement with true multiple replica and analytical methods. This method is universally applicable to the parallel imaging reconstruction techniques used in clinical applications and will allow pixel‐by‐pixel image noise measurements for all parallel imaging strategies, allowing quantitative comparison between arbitrary k‐space trajectories, image reconstruction, or noise conditioning techniques. Magn Reson Med 60:895–907, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

32‐channel phased‐array receive with asymmetric birdcage transmit coil for hyperpolarized xenon‐129 lung imaging

Hyperpolarized xenon‐129 has the potential to become a noninvasive contrast agent for lung MRI. In addition to its utility for imaging of ventilated airspaces, the property of xenon to dissolve in lung tissue and blood upon inhalation provides the opportunity to study gas exchange. Implementations of imaging protocols for obtaining regional parameters that exploit the dissolved phase are limited by the available signal‐to‐noise ratio, excitation homogeneity, and length of acquisition times. To address these challenges, a 32‐channel receive‐array coil complemented by an asymmetric birdcage transmit coil tuned to the hyperpolarized xenon‐129 resonance at 3 T was developed. First results of spin‐density imaging in healthy subjects and subjects with obstructive lung disease demonstrated the improvements in image quality by high‐resolution ventilation images with high signal‐to‐noise ratio. Parallel imaging performance of the phased‐array coil was demonstrated by acceleration factors up to three in 2D acquisitions and up to six in 3D acquisitions. Transmit‐field maps showed a regional variation of only 8% across the whole lung. The newly developed phased‐array receive coil with the birdcage transmit coil will lead to an improvement in existing imaging protocols, but moreover enable the development of new, functional lung imaging protocols based on the improvements in excitation homogeneity, signal‐to‐noise ratio, and acquisition speed. Magn Reson Med 70:576–583, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

4D phase contrast MRI at 3 T: Effect of standard and blood‐pool contrast agents on SNR,PC‐MRA,and blood flow visualization

Time‐resolved phase contrast (PC) MRI with velocity encoding in three directions (flow‐sensitive four‐dimensional MRI) can be employed to assess three‐dimensional blood flow in the entire aortic lumen within a single measurement. These data can be used not only for the visualization of blood flow but also to derive additional information on vascular geometry with three‐dimensional PC MR angiography (MRA). As PC‐MRA is sensitive to available signal‐to‐noise ratio, standard and novel blood pool contrast agents may help to enhance PC‐MRA image quality. In a group of 30 healthy volunteers, the influence of different contrast agents on vascular signal‐to‐noise ratio, PC‐MRA quality, and subsequent three‐dimensional stream‐line visualization in the thoracic aorta was determined. Flow‐sensitive four‐dimensional MRI data acquired with contrast agent provided significantly improved signal‐to‐noise ratio in magnitude data and noise reduction in velocity data compared to measurements without contrast media. The agreement of three‐dimensional PC‐MRA with reference standard contrast‐enhanced MRA was good for both contrast agents, with improved PC‐MRA performance for blood pool contrast agent, particularly for the smaller supra‐aortic branches. For three‐dimensional flow visualization, a trend toward improved results for the data with contrast agent was observed. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Time‐resolved angiography: Past,present, and future

The introduction of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in 1980 provided a method for real time 2D subtraction imaging. Later, 4D magnetic resonance (MR) angiography emerged beginning with techniques like Keyhole and time‐resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS) that provided frame rates of one every 5 seconds with limited spatial resolution. Undersampled radial acquisition was subsequently developed. The 3D vastly undersampled isotropic projection (VIPR) technique allowed undersampling factors of 30–40. Its combination with phase contrast displays time‐resolved flow dynamics within the cardiac cycle and has enabled the measurement of pressure gradients in small vessels. Meanwhile similar accelerations were achieved using Cartesian acquisition with projection reconstruction (CAPR), a Cartesian acquisition with 2D parallel imaging. Further acceleration is provided by constrained reconstruction techniques such as highly constrained back‐projection reconstruction (HYPR) and its derivatives, which permit acceleration factors approaching 1000. Hybrid MRA combines a separate phase contrast, time‐of flight, or contrast‐enhanced acquisition to constrain the reconstruction of contrast‐enhanced time frames providing exceptional spatial and temporal resolution and signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). This can be extended to x‐ray imaging where a 3D DSA examination can be used to constrain the reconstruction of time‐resolved 3D volumes. Each 4D DSA (time‐resolved 3D DSA) frame provides spatial resolution and SNR comparable to 3D DSA, thus removing a major limitation of intravenous DSA. Similar techniques have provided the ability to do 4D fluoroscopy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012; 36:1273–1286. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Three‐dimensional biexponential weighted 23Na imaging of the human brain with higher SNR and shorter acquisition time

A new method is presented for acquiring 3D biexponential weighted sodium images of the in vivo human brain with up to three times higher signal‐to‐noise ratio compared with conventional six‐step phase‐cycling triple‐quantum‐filtered imaging. To excite and detect multiple‐quantum coherences, a three‐pulse preparation is used. During the pulse train, two images are obtained. The first image is acquired with ultrashort echo time (0.3 ms) during preparation between the first two pulses to yield a spin‐density‐weighted image. After the last pulse, a single‐quantum‐filtered image is acquired with an echo time of 11 ms that maximizes the resulting signal. The biexponential weighted image is calculated by subtracting the single‐quantum‐filtered image from the spin‐density‐weighted image. The resulting image mainly shows signal from sodium ions with biexponential quadrupolar relaxation behavior. In isotropic environments, the resulting image mainly contains triple‐quantum‐filtered signal. The four‐step phase cycling yields similar signal‐to‐noise ratio in shorter acquisition time compared with six‐step phase‐cycling biexponential weighted imaging. Magn Reson Med 70:754–765, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Non‐contrast‐enhanced pulmonary vein MRI with a spatially selective slab inversion preparation sequence

We propose a non‐contrast‐enhanced, three‐dimensional, free‐breathing, electrocardiogram‐gated, gradient recalled echo sequence with a slab‐selective inversion for pulmonary vein (PV) MRI. A sagittal inversion slab was applied prior to data acquisition to suppress structures adjacent to the left atrium (LA) and PVs, thereby improving the conspicuity of the PV and LA. Compared with other MR angiography methods using an inversion pulse, the proposed method does not require signal subtraction and the inversion slab is not parallel to the imaging slab. The feasibility of the proposed method was demonstrated in healthy subjects. The inversion slab thickness and inversion time were optimized to be 60 mm and 500 ms, respectively. Compared to conventional gradient recalled echo imaging without inversion, the proposed technique significantly increased the contrast‐to‐noise ratios between the LA and the right atrium by 20‐fold (P < 0.01), increased the contrast‐to‐noise ratios between the PVs and right atrium by 10‐fold (P < 0.03), and increased the contrast‐to‐noise ratios between the PVs, LA and pulmonary artery by 4‐fold (P < 0.01 for both). The signal‐to‐noise ratios of the PVs and the LA were similar with and without the inversion slab (P > 0.3). The proposed technique greatly enhances the conspicuity of the PVs and LA without significant loss of signal‐to‐noise ratio. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

SNR‐optimized phase‐sensitive dual‐acquisition turbo spin echo imaging: A fast alternative to FLAIR

Phase‐sensitive dual‐acquisition single‐slab three‐dimensional turbo spin echo imaging was recently introduced, producing high‐resolution isotropic cerebrospinal fluid attenuated brain images without long inversion recovery preparation. Despite the advantages, the weighted‐averaging‐based technique suffers from noise amplification resulting from different levels of cerebrospinal fluid signal modulations over the two acquisitions. The purpose of this work is to develop a signal‐to‐noise ratio‐optimized version of the phase‐sensitive dual‐acquisition single‐slab three‐dimensional turbo spin echo. Variable refocusing flip angles in the first acquisition are calculated using a three‐step prescribed signal evolution while those in the second acquisition are calculated using a two‐step pseudo‐steady state signal transition with a high flip‐angle pseudo‐steady state at a later portion of the echo train, balancing the levels of cerebrospinal fluid signals in both the acquisitions. Low spatial frequency signals are sampled during the high flip‐angle pseudo‐steady state to further suppress noise. Numerical simulations of the Bloch equations were performed to evaluate signal evolutions of brain tissues along the echo train and optimize imaging parameters. In vivo studies demonstrate that compared with conventional phase‐sensitive dual‐acquisition single‐slab three‐dimensional turbo spin echo, the proposed optimization yields 74% increase in apparent signal‐to‐noise ratio for gray matter and 32% decrease in imaging time. The proposed method can be a potential alternative to conventional fluid‐attenuated imaging. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Validation of simple and robust protocols for high‐resolution lung proton MRI in mice

One fundamental limitation of spatial resolution for in vivo MR lung imaging is related to motion in the thoracic cavity. To overcome this limitation, several methods have been proposed, including scan‐synchronous ventilation and the cardiac gating approach. However, with cardiac and ventilation triggered techniques, the use of a predetermined and constant sequence repetition time is not possible, resulting in variable image contrast. In this study, the potential of two “constant repetition time” approaches based on retrospective self‐gating and signal averaging were investigated for lung imaging. Image acquisitions were performed at a very short echo time for visualization of the lung structures and the parenchyma. Highly spatially resolved images acquired using retrospective self‐gating, signal averaging technique and conventional cardiorespiratory gating are presented and compared. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Improved time‐of‐flight magnetic resonance angiography with IDEAL water‐fat separation

Purpose

To implement IDEAL (iterative decomposition of water and fat using echo asymmetry and least squares estimation) water‐fat separation with 3D time‐of‐flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of intracranial vessels for improved background suppression by providing uniform and robust separation of fat signal that appears bright on conventional TOF‐MRA.

Materials and Methods

IDEAL TOF‐MRA and conventional TOF‐MRA were performed in volunteers and patients undergoing routine brain MRI/MRA on a 3T magnet. Images were reviewed by two radiologists and graded based on vessel visibility and image quality.

Results

IDEAL TOF‐MRA demonstrated statistically significant improvement in vessel visibility when compared to conventional TOF‐MRA in both volunteer and clinical patients using an image quality grading system. Overall image quality was 3.87 (out of 4) for IDEAL versus 3.55 for conventional TOF imaging (P = 0.02). Visualization of the ophthalmic artery was 3.53 for IDEAL versus 1.97 for conventional TOF imaging (P < 0.00005) and visualization of the superficial temporal artery was 3.92 for IDEAL imaging versus 1.97 for conventional TOF imaging (P < 0.00005).

Conclusion

By providing uniform suppression of fat, IDEAL TOF‐MRA provides improved background suppression with improved image quality when compared to conventional TOF‐MRA methods. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:1367–1374. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Visualization of the lenticulostriate artery with flow‐sensitive black‐blood acquisition in comparison with time‐of‐flight MR angiography

Purpose

To evaluate the capability of flow‐sensitive black blood (FSBB) acquisition to visualize the lenticulostriate artery (LSA) in comparison with time‐of‐flight (TOF) angiography.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐one healthy subjects (13 males and 8 females, 19–44 years old) were enrolled in this study after obtaining written informed consent. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed with FSBB and TOF to visualize the LSA using a 1.5T MRI unit. In FSBB acquisition a motion probing gradient of b = 4 sec/mm² was applied to dephase blood flow. Images were reconstructed into coronal sections and were evaluated in terms of number, length, and image quality at origins and distal areas of visualized LSA branches with a four‐point scale.

Results

In all, 145 LSA branches were visualized with FSBB and 66 branches with TOF. There was no LSA visualized only with TOF. In all evaluated terms, FSBB was significantly better than TOF.

Conclusion

We could better visualize the LSA with FSBB than with TOF, both quantitatively and qualitatively. FSBB is a promising method, although it remains to be evaluated in clinical cases. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:65–69. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.