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Three‐dimensional quantitative T 1 and T 2 mapping of the carotid artery: Sequence design and in vivo feasibility
Author(s) -
Coolen Bram F.,
Poot Dirk H.J.,
Liem Madieke I.,
Smits Loek P.,
Gao Shan,
Kotek Gyula,
Klein Stefan,
Nederveen Aart J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.25634
Subject(s) - imaging phantom , flip angle , repeatability , carotid arteries , nuclear medicine , in vivo , medicine , biomedical engineering , mathematics , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , cardiology , statistics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Purpose A novel three‐dimensional (3D) T 1 and T 2 mapping protocol for the carotid artery is presented. Methods A 3D black‐blood imaging sequence was adapted allowing carotid T 1 and T 2 mapping using multiple flip angles and echo time (TE) preparation times. B 1 mapping was performed to correct for spatially varying deviations from the nominal flip angle. The protocol was optimized using simulations and phantom experiments. In vivo scans were performed on six healthy volunteers in two sessions, and in a patient with advanced atherosclerosis. Compensation for patient motion was achieved by 3D registration of the inter/intrasession scans. Subsequently, T 1 and T 2 maps were obtained by maximum likelihood estimation. Results Simulations and phantom experiments showed that the bias in T 1 and T 2 estimation was < 10% within the range of physiological values. In vivo T 1 and T 2 values for carotid vessel wall were 844 ± 96 and 39 ± 5 ms, with good repeatability across scans. Patient data revealed altered T 1 and T 2 values in regions of atherosclerotic plaque. Conclusion The 3D T 1 and T 2 mapping of the carotid artery is feasible using variable flip angle and variable TE preparation acquisitions. We foresee application of this technique for plaque characterization and monitoring plaque progression in atherosclerotic patients. Magn Reson Med 75:1008–1017, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.