Characterization of gradient echo signal decays in healthy and cancerous prostate at 3T improves with a Gaussian augmentation of the mono-exponential (GAME) model

Myelin water imaging at 0.55 T using a multigradient-echo sequence

PURPOSE

To investigate the prospects of a multigradient-echo (mGRE) acquisition for in vivo myelin water imaging at 0.55 T.

METHODS

Scans were performed on the brain of four healthy volunteers at 0.55 and 3 T, using a 3D mGRE sequence. The myelin water fraction (MWF) was calculated for both field strengths using a nonnegative least squares (NNLS) algorithm, implemented in the qMRLab suite. The quality of these maps as well as single-voxel fits were compared visually for 0.55 and 3 T.

RESULTS

The obtained MWF values at 0.55 T are consistent with previously reported ones at higher field strengths. The MWF maps are a considerable improvement over the ones at 3 T. Example fits show that 0.55 T data is better described by an exponential model than 3 T data, making the assumed multi-exponential model of the NNLS algorithm more accurate.

CONCLUSION

This first assessment shows that mGRE myelin water imaging at 0.55 T is feasible and has the potential to yield better results than at higher fields.

Information theoretic evaluation of Lorentzian, Gaussian, Voigt, and symmetric alpha-stable models of reversible transverse relaxation in cervical cancer in vivo at 3 T

OBJECTS

To better characterize cervical cancer at 3 T. MRI transverse relaxation patterns hold valuable biophysical information about cellular scale microstructure. Lorentzian modeling is typically used to represent intravoxel frequency distributions, resulting in mono-exponential decay of reversible transverse relaxation. However, deviations from mono-exponential decay are expected theoretically and observed experimentally.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared the information content of four models of signal attenuation with reversible transverse relaxation. Biological phantoms and six women with cervical squamous cell carcinoma were imaged using a gradient-echo sampling of the spin-echo (GESSE) sequence. Lorentzian, Gaussian, Voigt, and Symmetric α-Stable (SAS) models were ranked using Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC), and the model retaining the highest information content was identified at each voxel as the best model.

RESULTS

The Lorentzian model resulted in information loss in large fractions of the phantoms and cervix. Gaussian and SAS models frequently had higher information content than the Lorentzian in much of the areas of interest. The Voigt model rarely surpassed the three other models in terms of information content.

DISCUSSION

Gaussian and SAS models provide better fitting of data in much of the human cervix at 3 T. Minimizing information loss through improved tissue modeling may have important implications for identifying reliable biomarkers of tumor hypoxia and iron deposition.

High spectral and spatial resolution MRI of prostate cancer: a pilot study

PURPOSE

High spectral and spatial resolution (HiSS) MRI is a spectroscopic imaging method focusing on water and fat resonances that has good diagnostic utility in breast imaging. The purpose of this work was to assess the feasibility and potential utility of HiSS MRI for the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

METHODS

HiSS MRI was acquired at 3 T from six patients who underwent prostatectomy, yielding a train of 127 phase-coherent gradient echo (GRE) images. In the temporal domain, changes in voxel intensity were analyzed and linear (R) and quadratic (R1, R2) quantifiers of signal logarithm decay were calculated. In the spectral domain, three signal scaling-independent parameters were calculated: water resonance peak width (PW), relative peak asymmetry (PRA), and relative peak distortion from ideal Lorentzian shape (PRD). Seven cancer and five normal tissue regions of interest were identified in correlation with pathology and compared.

RESULTS

HiSS-derived quantifiers, except R2, showed high reproducibility (coefficients of variation, 5%-14%). Spectral domain quantifiers performed better than temporal domain quantifiers, with receiver operator characteristic areas under the curve ranging from of 0.83 to 0.91. For temporal domain parameters, the range was 0.74 to 0.91. Low absolute values of the coefficients of correlation between monoexponential decay markers (R, PW) and resonance shape markers (PRA, PRD) were observed (range, 0.23-0.38).

CONCLUSION

The feasibility and potential diagnostic utility of HiSS MRI in the prostate at 3 T without an endorectal coil was confirmed. Weak correlation between well-performing markers indicates that complementary information could be leveraged to further improve diagnostic accuracy.

A new concept for improved quantitative analysis of reversible transverse relaxation in tissues with variable microscopic field distribution

PURPOSE

The intravoxel distribution of the magnetic field strongly influences signal dephasing after RF excitation and the resulting signal decay in gradient echo-based MRI. In this work, several different field distribution models were applied and tested for analysis of microscopic field characteristics within pixels.

THEORY

A flexible model for improved pixel-wise characterization of the underlying field distribution is introduced. The proposed symmetric alpha-stable (SαS) distribution covers Lorentzian, Gaussian, and intermediate field distributions in a continuous way using a two-parametric (width and shape) function.

METHODS

The new model was applied on human brain, potatoes (homogeneous isotropic tissue), and stems of pineapple (anisotropic fibrous tissue). Effects of microscopic structure and background gradients on the shape and the widths of the microscopic field distribution were analyzed using gradient echo sampling of the spin echo and multigradient-echo sequences. Effects of non-Lorentzian shapes of microscopic field distributions on the results of common T 2 ∗ measurements with mono-exponential fitting of signal values were tested.

RESULTS

Many pixels of the examined objects showed field characteristics in between Lorentzian and Gaussian shapes. Microscopic field inhomogeneities caused by microscopic susceptibility effects and background gradients sometimes led to rather Gaussian than Lorentzian field distribution. In cases with nearly Gaussian field distribution, mono-exponential fitting of the signal decay resulted in different T 2 ∗ values, depending on the sampling points.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the concept of more flexible distributions for characterization of microscopic susceptibility effects in tissue provides better fitting of data and nearly sampling point-independent results than common T 2 ∗ measurements with mono-exponential fitting.

In vivo measurements of irreversible and reversible transverse relaxation rates in human basal ganglia at 7 T: making inferences about the microscopic and mesoscopic structure of iron and calcification deposits

The goal of this study was to measure irreversible and reversible transverse relaxation rates in the globus pallidus and putamen at 7 T, and to use these rates to make inferences about the sub-voxel structure of iron and calcification deposits. Gradient Echo Sampling of a Spin Echo (GESSE) data were acquired at 7 T on eighteen volunteers spanning a large range of ages (23-85 years), with calcifications in the globus pallidus incidentally observed in one volunteer. Maps of transverse relaxation rates were derived from the GESSE data, and the mean value of these rates in globus pallidus and putamen was estimated for each volunteer. Both irreversible and reversible transverse relaxation rates increased with the expected age-dependent iron content in these structures, except for the individual with calcifications for whom extremely large reversible relaxation rates but normal irreversible relaxation rates were found in the globus pallidus. Given the sensitivity of irreversible and reversible transverse relaxation rates to microscopic and mesoscopic field variations, respectively, our findings suggest that joint consideration of these rates may yield information not only about the amount of iron and calcification deposited in the brain, but also about the sub-voxel structure of these deposits, perhaps revealing certain aspects of their geometry and cellular distribution.

Visualization of calcium phosphate cement in teeth by zero echo time 1 H MRI at high field

¹ H magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by a zero echo time (ZTE) sequence is an excellent method to image teeth. Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) materials are applied in the restoration of tooth lesions, but it has not yet been investigated whether they can be detected by computed tomography (CT) or MRI. The aim of this study was to optimize high-field ZTE imaging to enable the visualization of a new CPC formulation implanted in teeth and to apply this in the assessment of its decomposition in vivo. CPC was implanted in three human and three goat teeth ex vivo and in three goat teeth in vivo. An ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequence with multiple flip angles and echo times was applied at 11.7 T to measure T₁ and T₂ * values of CPC, enamel and dentin. Teeth with CPC were imaged with an optimized ZTE sequence. Goat teeth implanted with CPC in vivo were imaged after 7 weeks ex vivo. T₂ * relaxation of implanted CPC, dentin and enamel was better fitted by a model assuming a Gaussian rather than a Lorentzian distribution. For CPC and human enamel and dentin, the average T₂ * values were 273 ± 19, 562 ± 221 and 476 ± 147 μs, respectively, the average T₂ values were 1234 ± 27, 963 ± 151 and 577 ± 41 μs, respectively, and the average T₁ values were 1065 ± 45, 972 ± 40 and 903 ± 7 ms, respectively. In ZTE images, CPC had a higher signal-to-noise-ratio than dentin and enamel because of the higher water content. Seven weeks after in vivo implantation, the CPC-filled lesions showed less homogeneous structures, a lower T₁ value and T₂ * separated into two components. MRI by ZTE provides excellent contrast for CPC in teeth and allows its decomposition to be followed.

Magnetic resonance imaging basics for the prostate brachytherapist

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used in radiation therapy, and integration of MRI into brachytherapy in particular is becoming more common. We present here a systematic review of the basic physics and technical aspects of incorporating MRI into prostate brachytherapy. Terminology and MRI system components are reviewed along with typical work flows in prostate high-dose-rate and low-dose-rate brachytherapy. In general, the brachytherapy workflow consists of five key components: diagnosis, implantation, treatment planning (scan + plan), implant verification, and delivery. MRI integration is discussed for diagnosis; treatment planning; and MRI-guided brachytherapy implants, in which MRI is used to guide the physical insertion of the brachytherapy applicator or needles. Considerations and challenges for establishing an MRI brachytherapy program are also discussed.