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Simultaneous evaluation of vascular morphology, blood volume and transvascular permeability using SPION‐based, dual‐contrast MRI: imaging optimization and feasibility test
Author(s) -
Kwon HeonJu,
Shim Woo Hyun,
Cho Gyunggoo,
Cho Hyung Joon,
Jung Hoe Su,
Lee Chang Kyung,
Lee Yong Seok,
Baek Jin Hee,
Kim Eun Ju,
Suh JiYeon,
Sung Yu Sub,
Woo DongCheol,
Kim Young Ro,
Kim Jeong Kon
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
nmr in biomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.278
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1099-1492
pISSN - 0952-3480
DOI - 10.1002/nbm.3293
Subject(s) - flip angle , image quality , nuclear medicine , blood volume , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , biomedical engineering , in vivo , radiology , cardiology , artificial intelligence , computer science , image (mathematics) , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Exploiting ultrashort‐ T E (UTE) MRI, T 1 ‐weighted positive contrast can be obtained from superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), which are widely used as a robust T 2 ‐weighted, negative contrast agent on conventional MR images. Our study was designed (a) to optimize the dual‐contrast MRI method using SPIONs and (b) to validate the feasibility of simultaneously evaluating the vascular morphology, blood volume and transvascular permeability using the dual‐contrast effect of SPIONs. All studies were conducted using 3 T MRI. According to numerical simulation, 0.15 mM was the optimal blood SPION concentration for visualizing the positive contrast effect using UTE MRI ( T E = 0.09 ms), and a flip angle of 40° could provide sufficient SPION‐induced enhancement and acceptable measurement noise for UTE MR angiography. A pharmacokinetic study showed that this concentration can be steadily maintained from 30 to 360 min after the injection of 29 mg/kg of SPIONs. An in vivo study using these settings displayed image quality and CNR of SPION‐enhanced UTE MR angiography (image quality score 3.5; CNR 146) comparable to those of the conventional, Gd‐enhanced method (image quality score 3.8; CNR 148) ( p > 0.05). Using dual‐contrast MR images obtained from SPION‐enhanced UTE and conventional spin‐ and gradient‐echo methods, the transvascular permeability (water exchange index 1.76–1.77), cerebral blood volume (2.58–2.60%) and vessel caliber index (3.06–3.10) could be consistently quantified (coefficient of variation less than 9.6%; Bland–Altman 95% limits of agreement 0.886–1.111) and were similar to the literature values. Therefore, using the optimized setting of combined SPION‐based MRI techniques, the vascular morphology, blood volume and transvascular permeability can be comprehensively evaluated during a single session of MR examination. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.