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A double echo ultra short echo time (UTE) acquisition for respiratory motion‐suppressed high resolution imaging of the lung
Author(s) -
Delacoste Jean,
Chaptinel Jerome,
BeigelmanAubry Catherine,
Piccini Davide,
Sauty Alain,
Stuber Matthias
Publication year - 2018
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.26891
Subject(s) - echo (communications protocol) , lung , temporal resolution , echo time , nuclear magnetic resonance , respiratory system , nuclear medicine , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , physics , radiology , computer science , optics , computer network
Purpose Magnetic resonance imaging is a promising alternative to computed tomography for lung imaging. However, organ motion and poor signal‐to‐noise ratio, arising from shortT 2 * , impair image quality. To alleviate these issues, a new retrospective gating method was implemented and tested with an ultra‐short echo time sequence. Methods A 3D double‐echo ultra‐short echo time sequence was used to acquire data during free breathing in ten healthy adult subjects. A self‐gating method was used to reconstruct respiratory motion suppressed expiratory and inspiratory images. These images were objectively compared to uncorrected data sets using quantitative end‐points (pulmonary vessel sharpness, lung–liver interface definition, signal‐to‐noise ratio). The method was preliminarily tested in two cystic fibrosis patients who underwent computed tomography. Results Vessel sharpness in expiratory ultra‐short echo time data sets with second echo motion detection was significantly higher (13% relative increase) than in uncorrected images while the opposite was observed in inspiratory images. The method was successfully applied in patients and some findings (e.g., hypointense areas) were similar to those from computed tomography. Conclusion Free breathing ultra‐short echo time was successfully implemented, allowing flexible image reconstruction of two different respiratory states. Objective improvements in image quality were obtained with the new method and initial feasibility in a clinical setting was demonstrated. Magn Reson Med 79:2297–2305, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.