Whole-Cerebrum distortion-free three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling at 7T

A straightforward approach for 3D single-shot arterial spin labeling-based brain perfusion imaging: Preventing artifacts due to signal fluctuations

PURPOSE

The present work aims to evaluate the performance of three-dimensional (3D) single-shot stack-of-spirals turbo FLASH (SOS-TFL) acquisition for pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) and velocity-selective ASL (VSASL)-based cerebral blood flow (CBF) mapping, as well as VSASL-based cerebral blood volume (CBV) mapping.

METHODS

Digital phantom simulations were conducted for both multishot echo planar imaging and spiral trajectories with intershot signal fluctuations. PCASL-derived CBF (PCASL-CBF), VSASL-derived CBF (VSASL-CBF), and CBV (VSASL-CBV) were all acquired using 3D multishot gradient and spin-echo and SOS-TFL acquisitions following background suppression. Both simulation and in vivo images were compared between multishot and single-shot compressed sensing-regularized sensitivity encoding (CS-SENSE) reconstructions.

RESULTS

Artifacts were observed in both simulated multishot echo planar imaging and spiral readouts, as well as in in vivo multishot ASL perfusion images. A high correlation was found between the levels of signal fluctuations among interleaves and the severity of artifacts in both simulated and in vivo data. Image artifacts were more apparent in the inferior region of the brain, especially in CBF scans. These artifacts were effectively eliminated when single-shot CS-SENSE reconstruction was applied to the same data set.

CONCLUSION

ASL images obtained from 3D segmented gradient and spin-echo or SOS-TFL acquisitions can exhibit artifacts caused by signal fluctuations among different shots, which persist even after the application of background suppression pulses. In contrast, these artifacts were prevented when single-shot CS-SENSE reconstruction was applied to the same SOS-TFL data set.

SNR-efficient whole-brain pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling perfusion imaging at 7 T

PURPOSE

To optimize pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) parameters to maximize SNR efficiency for RF power constrained whole brain perfusion imaging at 7 T.

METHODS

We used Bloch simulations of pulsatile laminar flow to optimize the PCASL parameters for maximum SNR efficiency, balancing labeling efficiency and total RF power. The optimization included adjusting the inter-RF pulse spacing (TRPCASL), mean B1 + (B1 + ave), slice-selective gradient amplitude (Gmax), and mean gradient amplitude (Gave). In vivo data were acquired from six volunteers at 7 T to validate the optimized parameters. Dynamic B0-shimming and flip angle adjustments were used to avoid needing to make the PCASL parameters robust to B0/B1 + variations.

RESULTS

The optimized PCASL parameters achieved a significant (3.3×) reduction in RF power while maintaining high labeling efficiency. This allowed for longer label durations and minimized deadtime, resulting in a 118% improvement in SNR efficiency in vivo compared to a previously proposed protocol. Additionally, the static tissue response was improved, reducing the required distance between labeling plane and imaging volume.

CONCLUSION

These optimized PCASL parameters provide a robust and efficient approach for whole brain perfusion imaging at 7 T, with significant improvements in SNR efficiency and reduced specific absorption rate burden.

Whole-cerebrum three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling at 5T: reproducibility and preliminary application in moyamoya

Background

Pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) at 7T benefits from increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and prolonged T1, but suffers from field inhomogeneities and increased specific absorption rate (SAR). We proposed that 5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system may be a balanced choice for PCASL imaging. The aim of this study was to achieve whole-cerebrum PCASL imaging at ultra-high field 5T MRI system, assess the reproducibility and preliminarily explore its clinical application in moyamoya disease/syndrome.

Methods

Twenty healthy volunteers were prospectively recruited for the reproducibility analysis. Both single-delay and multi-delay PCASL sequences were scanned twice on the 5T MRI scanner separated by a 10-minute period. Uncorrected cerebral blood flow (uCBF) from single-delay arterial spin labeling (ASL), corrected cerebral blood flow (cCBF) and arterial transit time (ATT) from multi-delay ASL were computed. The reproducibility of uCBF, cCBF and ATT were evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), within-subject coefficient of variation (wsCV) and Pearson correlation coefficients between twice scans in grey matter regions and white matter (WM). Also, 26 patients diagnosed with moyamoya disease/syndrome were included and underwent multi-delay PCASL. The severity of intracranial arteries was graded as magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) score using time-of-flight (TOF) MRA. The relationship between MRA score and cCBF/ATT were assessed by one-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis.

Results

uCBF, cCBF and ATT showed excellent reliability in all regions with ICCs ranging from 0.856 to 0.962, wsCVs ranging from 2.39% to 6.76% and Pearson correlation coefficients ranging from 0.865 to 0.966. Multi-delay ASL demonstrated superior reproducibility of CBF quantification compared to single-delay ASL in regions with heterogeneous transit time, including WM, occipital lobe, limbic system and subcortical region. In patients with moyamoya disease/syndrome, those with higher anterior cerebral artery (ACA) or middle cerebral artery (MCA) scores exhibited lower cCBF (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that MRA score was negatively associated with cCBF (r=-0.540, P<0.001) and positively associated with ATT (r=0.515, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Whole-cerebrum PCASL imaging at 5T ultra-high field was achieved with good reproducibility and applied well in patients with moyamoya disease/syndrome, which offers a promising tool in the assessment of hemodynamic conditions in cerebrovascular diseases.

Dynamic B0 field shimming for improving pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling at 7 T

PURPOSE

B0 field inhomogeneity within the brain-feeding arteries is a major issue for pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) at 7 T because it reduces the labeling efficiency and leads to a loss of perfusion signal. This study aimed to develop a vessel-specific dynamic B0 field shimming method for 7 T PCASL to improve the labeling efficiency by correcting off-resonance within the arteries in the labeling region.

METHODS

We implemented a PCASL sequence with dynamic B0 shimming at 7 T that compensates for B0 field offsets in the brain-feeding arteries by updating linear shimming terms and adding a phase increment to the PCASL RF pulses. Rapidly acquired vessel-specific B0 field maps were used to calculate dynamic B0 shimming parameters. We evaluated both 2D and 3D variants of our method, comparing their performance against the established global frequency offset and optimal encoding scheme-based corrections. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps were quantified before and after corrections, and CBF values from different methods were compared across the whole brain, white matter, and gray matter regions.

RESULTS

All off-resonance correction methods significantly recovered perfusion signals across the brain. The proposed vessel-specific dynamic B0 shimming method improved the labeling efficiency while maintaining optimal static shimming in the imaging region. Perfusion-weighted images demonstrated the superiority of the 3D dynamic B0 shimming method compared to global or 2D-based correction approaches. CBF analysis revealed that 3D dynamic B0 shimming significantly increased CBF values relative to the other methods.

CONCLUSION

Our proposed dynamic B0 shimming method offers a significant advancement in PCASL robustness and effectiveness, enabling full utilization of 7 T ASL high sensitivity and spatial resolution.

Whole-cerebrum guanidino and amide CEST mapping at 3 T by a 3D stack-of-spirals gradient echo acquisition

PURPOSE

To develop a 3D, high-sensitivity CEST mapping technique based on the 3D stack-of-spirals (SOS) gradient echo readout, the proposed approach was compared with conventional acquisition techniques and evaluated for its efficacy in concurrently mapping of guanidino (Guan) and amide CEST in human brain at 3 T, leveraging the polynomial Lorentzian line-shape fitting (PLOF) method.

METHODS

Saturation time and recovery delay were optimized to achieve maximum CEST time efficiency. The 3DSOS method was compared with segmented 3D EPI (3DEPI), turbo spin echo, and gradient- and spin-echo techniques. Image quality, temporal SNR (tSNR), and test-retest reliability were assessed. Maps of Guan and amide CEST derived from 3DSOS were demonstrated on a low-grade glioma patient.

RESULTS

The optimized recovery delay/saturation time was determined to be 1.4/2 s for Guan and amide CEST. In addition to nearly doubling the slice number, the gradient echo techniques also outperformed spin echo sequences in tSNR: 3DEPI (193.8 ± 6.6), 3DSOS (173.9 ± 5.6), and GRASE (141.0 ± 2.7). 3DSOS, compared with 3DEPI, demonstrated comparable GuanCEST signal in gray matter (GM) (3DSOS: [2.14%-2.59%] vs. 3DEPI: [2.15%-2.61%]), and white matter (WM) (3DSOS: [1.49%-2.11%] vs. 3DEPI: [1.64%-2.09%]). 3DSOS also achieves significantly higher amideCEST in both GM (3DSOS: [2.29%-3.00%] vs. 3DEPI: [2.06%-2.92%]) and WM (3DSOS: [2.23%-2.66%] vs. 3DEPI: [1.95%-2.57%]). 3DSOS outperforms 3DEPI in terms of scan-rescan reliability (correlation coefficient: 3DSOS: 0.58-0.96 vs. 3DEPI: -0.02 to 0.75) and robustness to motion as well.

CONCLUSION

The 3DSOS CEST technique shows promise for whole-cerebrum CEST imaging, offering uniform contrast and robustness against motion artifacts.

Assessing Cerebral Microvascular Volumetric Pulsatility with High-Resolution 4D CBV MRI at 7T

Arterial pulsation is crucial for promoting fluid circulation and for influencing neuronal activity. Previous studies assessed the pulsatility index based on blood flow velocity pulsatility in relatively large cerebral arteries of human. Here, we introduce a novel method to quantify the volumetric pulsatility of cerebral microvasculature across cortical layers and in white matter (WM), using high-resolution 4D vascular space occupancy (VASO) MRI with simultaneous recording of pulse signals at 7T. Microvascular volumetric pulsatility index (mvPI) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) changes across cardiac cycles are assessed through retrospective sorting of VASO signals into cardiac phases and estimating mean CBV in resting state (CBV0) by arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI at 7T. Using data from 11 young (28.4±5.8 years) and 7 older (61.3±6.2 years) healthy participants, we investigated the aging effect on mvPI and compared microvascular pulsatility with large arterial pulsatility assessed by 4D-flow MRI. We observed the highest mvPI in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on the cortical surface (0.19±0.06), which decreased towards the cortical layers as well as in larger arteries. In the deep WM, a significantly increased mvPI (p = 0.029) was observed in the older participants compared to younger ones. Additionally, mvPI in deep WM is significantly associated with the velocity pulsatility index (vePI) of large arteries (r = 0.5997, p = 0.0181). We further performed test-retest scans, non-parametric reliability test and simulations to demonstrate the reproducibility and accuracy of our method. To the best of our knowledge, our method offers the first in vivo measurement of microvascular volumetric pulsatility in human brain which has implications for cerebral microvascular health and its relationship research with glymphatic system, aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Robust dual-angle T 1 measurement in magnetization transfer spectroscopy by time-optimal control

Magnetization transfer spectroscopy relies heavily on the robust determination ofT 1 relaxation times of nuclei participating in metabolic exchange. Challenges arise due to the use of surface RF coils for transmission (highB 1 + variation) and the broad resonance band of most X nuclei. These challenges are particularly pronounced when fastT 1 mapping methods, such as the dual-angle method, are employed. Consequently, in this work, we develop resonance offset andB 1 + robust excitation RF pulses for 31P magnetization transfer spectroscopy at 7T through ensemble-based time-optimal control. In our approach, we introduce a cost functional for designing robust pulses, incorporating the full Bloch equations as constraints, which are solved using symmetric operator splitting techniques. The optimal control design of the RF pulses developed demonstrates improved accuracy, desired phase properties, and reduced RF power when applied to dual-angleT 1 mapping, thereby improving the precision of exchange-rate measurements, as demonstrated in a preclinical in vivo study quantifying brain creatine kinase activity.

Laminar multi-contrast fMRI at 7T allows differentiation of neuronal excitation and inhibition underlying positive and negative BOLD responses

A major challenge for human neuroimaging using functional MRI is the differentiation of neuronal excitation and inhibition which may induce positive and negative BOLD responses. Here we present an innovative multi-contrast laminar functional MRI technique that offers comprehensive and quantitative imaging of neurovascular (CBF, CBV, BOLD) and metabolic (CMRO2) responses across cortical layers at 7 Tesla. This technique was first validated through a finger-tapping experiment, revealing 'double-peak' laminar activation patterns within the primary motor cortex. By employing a ring-shaped visual stimulus that elicited positive and negative BOLD responses, we further observed distinct neurovascular and metabolic responses across cortical layers and eccentricities in the primary visual cortex. This suggests potential feedback inhibition of neuronal activities in both superficial and deep cortical layers underlying the negative BOLD signals in the fovea, and also illustrates the neuronal activities in visual areas adjacent to the activated eccentricities.