Open AccessRESUME: Turning an SWI acquisition into a fast qMRI protocol
Author(s) -
Serena Monti,
Pasquale Borrelli,
Enrico Tedeschi,
Sirio Cocozza,
Giuseppe Palma
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0189933
Subject(s) - susceptibility weighted imaging , relaxometry , protocol (science) , reproducibility , magnetic resonance imaging , high resolution , physics , computer science , nuclear magnetic resonance , medical physics , nuclear medicine , medicine , radiology , mathematics , statistics , spin echo , pathology , remote sensing , alternative medicine , geology
Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) is a common MRI technique that exploits the magnetic susceptibility differences between the tissues to provide valuable image contrasts, both in research and clinical contexts. However, despite its increased clinical use, SWI is not intrinsically suitable for quantitation purposes. Conversely, quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (qMRI) provides a way to disentangle the sources of common MR image contrasts ( e . g . proton density, T 1 , etc.) and to measure physical parameters intrinsically related to tissue microstructure. Unfortunately, the poor signal-to-noise ratio and resolution, coupled with the long imaging time of most qMRI strategies, have hindered the integration of quantitative imaging into clinical protocols. Here we present the RElaxometry and SUsceptibility Mapping Expedient (RESUME) to show that the standard acquisition leading to a clinical SWI dataset can be easily turned into a thorough qMRI protocol at the cost of a further 50% of the SWI scan time. The R 1 ,R 2 *, proton density and magnetic susceptibility maps provided by the RESUME scheme alongside the SWI reconstruction exhibit high reproducibility and accuracy, and a submillimeter resolution is proven to be compatible with a total scan time of 7 minutes.