Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (대한자기공명의과학회)
권호 표지

Optimizations of 3D MRI Techniques in Brain by Evaluating SENSE Factors

삼차원 자기공명영상법의 뇌 구조 영상을 위한 최적화 연구: 센스인자 변화에 따른 신호변화 평가

  • Park, Myung-Hwan (Department of Radiology, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Jin-Wan (Department of Radiology, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Kang-Won (Department of Radiology, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Ryu, Chang-Woo (Department of Radiology, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Jahng, Geon-Ho (Department of Radiology, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University)
  • 박명환 (경희대학교 동서신의학병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 이진완 (경희대학교 동서신의학병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 이강원 (경희대학교 동서신의학병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 류창우 (경희대학교 동서신의학병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 장건호 (경희대학교 동서신의학병원 영상의학과)
  • Published : 2009.12.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Purpose : A parallel imaging method provides us to improve temporal resolution to obtain three-dimensional (3D) MR images. The objective of this study was to optimize three 3D MRI techniques by adjusting 2D SESNE factors of the parallel imaging method in phantom and human brain. Materials and Methods : With a 3 Tesla MRI system and an 8-channel phase-array sensitivity-encoding (SENSE) coil, three 3D MRI techniques of 3D T1-weighted imaging (3D T1WI), 3D T2-weighted imaging (3D T2WI) and 3D fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D FLAIR) imaging were optimized with adjusting SESNE factors in a water phantom and three human brains. The 2D SENSE factor was applied on the phase-encoding and the slice-encoding directions. Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), percent signal reduction rate(%R), and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) were calculated by using signal intensities obtained in specific regions-of-interest (ROI). Results : In the phantom study, SENSE factor = 3 was provided in 0.2% reduction of signals against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T1WI. SENSE factor = 2 was provided in 0.98% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T2WI. SENSE factor = 4 was provided in 0.2% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging around 6 minutes for 3D FLAIR. In the human brain study, SNR and CNR were higher with SENSE factors = 3 than 4 for all three imaging techniques. Conclusion : This study was performed to optimize 2D SENSE factors in the three 3D MRI techniques that can be scanned in clinical time limitations with minimizing SNR reductions. Without compromising SNR and CNR, the optimum 2D SENSE factors were 3 and 4, yielding the scan time of about 5 to 6 minutes. Further studies are necessary to optimize 3D MRI techniques in other areas in human body.

목적 : 평행영상(Parallel imaging)기법의 개발로 긴 촬영시간 때문에 종종 사용되지 못하던 삼차원 영상기법이 최근 들어 환자 병을 진단하는데 새로이 사용되고 있다. 이 연구의 목적은 최근에 뇌 영상에서 개발되어 이용되고 있는 삼차원 자기공명영상을 사람의 뇌에서 짧은 시간 내에 얻을 수 있도록 2차원 평행영상 기법을 사용한 최적화 방법을 연구하는데 있다. 대상 및 방법 : 검사 장비는 3.0T 자기공명영상장치를 이용하였으며 8-채널 SENSE(sensitivity encoding) 머리 코일을 이용하였다. 팬텀 및 3명의 사람 머리에서 영상을 얻었다. 세 가지의 삼차원 영상법인 3D T1WI, 3D T2WI 및 3D FLAIR 영상 방법에 대하여 평행인자(SENSE factor)의 변화에 따른 팬텀 영상을 얻었다. 각각의 영상법에서 영상획득에 적당한 SENSE 인자를 찾기 위해 Phase encoding 방향과 Slice encoding 방향을 조합한 SENSE 인자를 변화시키면서 영상을 얻었다. 영상분석을 위하여 특정영역(ROI)를 설정한 후에 신호대 잡음비 (Signal-to-noise ratio, SNR), 감소분율(Percent Signal Reduction Rate, %R), 대조도(contrast-to-noise ratio, CNR)를 계산하였다. 결과 : 팬텀을 이용한 SENSE 인자 변화에 따른 SNR 및 %R 값의 변화 결과 3D T1WI 방법에서 SENSE 인자를 사용한 것들 중에서 SENSE 인자를 총 3인 경우 약 0.2%의 신호 감소가 나타났고 영상시간은 5분 이내였다. 3D T2WI 방법의 경우 SENSE 인자를 사용한 것들 중에서 SENSE 인자를 총 3인 경우에 약 1.0% 신호 감소가 나타났고 영상 시간은 약 5분 이내였다. 3D FLAIR 방법의 경우 SENSE 인자를 사용한 것들 중에서 SENSE 인자를 4를 사용한 경우에 약 0.2% 신호 감소가 나타났고 영상시간은 약 6분이었다. 사람을 대상으로 할 경우 3D T1W 및 3D T2W영상에서 SNR 및 CNR은 SENSE 인자를 3으로 한 경우에서 SENSE 인자를 4로 한 경우 보다 높게 나타났다. 3D FALIR 영상의 경우 CNR은 SENSE 4에서는 SENSE 3에 비하여 낮았다. 결론 : 본 연구에서는 3가지 3차원 영상법을 실제 임상적용이 가능한 시간 영역에서 SENSE 인자를 변화 시키면서 치적의 영상을 얻도록 하는 연구를 실시한 결과 SNR 감소를 최소화 하면서 영상획득 시간을 약 5분에서 6분 정도 소요되는 2차원 SENSE 인자를 찾았다. 이를 뇌 영상에 적용하였을 경우 SENSE 인자를 적용하지 않은 경우와 비교하면 신호 감소는 최소화 하면서 영상의 질은 큰 영향을 주지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 3D T1W및 3D T2W는 SENSE 인자를 3으로 3D FLAIR인자는 SENSE 인자를 4로 하는 것이 환자를 대상으로 한 뇌 영상에 적합하다고 생각된다. 앞으로는 이들 영상법이 뇌 영상뿐만 아니라 다른 영역의 영상에 적용을 위한 최적화가 필요하다고 생각된다.

Keywords

References

  1. Held P, Fellner C, Fellner F, Geissler A, Gmeinwieser J. Three-dimensional MP-RAGE--an alternative to conventional three-dimensional FLASH sequences for the diagnosis of viscerocranial tumours? Br J RadioI 1995;68(816):1316-1324 https://doi.org/10.1259/0007-1285-68-816-1316
  2. Magland JF, Wald MJ, Wehrli FW. Spin-echo micro-MRI of trabecular bone using improved 3D fast large-angle spin-echo (FLASE). Magn Reson Med 2009
  3. Ristow O, Steinbach L, Sabo G, Krug R, Huber M, Rauscher I, Ma B, Link TM. Isotropic 3D fast spin-echo imaging versus standard 2D imaging at 3.0 T of the knee-image quality and diagnostic performance. Eur Radiol 2009;19(5):1263-1272 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-008-1260-y
  4. Gold GE, Busse RF, Beehler C, Han E, Brau AC, Beatty PJ, Beaulieu CF. Isotropic MRI of the knee with 3D fast spin-echo extended echo-train acquisition (XETA): initial experience. AJR Am J RoentgenoI 2007;188(5):1287-1293 https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.06.1208
  5. Stevens KJ, Busse RF, Han E, Brau AC, Beatty PJ, Beaulieu CF, Gold GE. Ankle: isotropic MR imaging with 3D-FSE-cube--initial experience in healthy volunteers. Radiology 2008;249(3):1026-1033 https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2493080227
  6. Tomoda Y, Korogi Y, Aoki T, Morioka T, Takahashi H, Ohno M, Takeshita I. Detection of cerebrospinal fluid leakage: initial experience with three-dimensional fast spin-echo magnetic resonance myelography. Acta RadioI 2008;49(2):197-203 https://doi.org/10.1080/02841850701769785
  7. Mitsouras D, Mulkern RV, Owens CD, Conte MS, Ersoy H, Luu TM, Whitmore AG, Creager MA, Rybicki FJ. High-resolution peripheral vein bypass graft wall studies using high sampling efficiency inner volume 3D FSE. Magn Reson Med 2008;59(3):650-654 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.21359
  8. Rybicki FJ, Mitsouras D, Owens CD, Whitmore AG, Ersoy H, Mulkern RV, Creager MA, Conte MS. Lower extremity peripheral vein bypass graft wall thickness changes demonstrated at 1 and 6 months after surgery with ultra-high spatial resolution black blood inner volume three-dimensional fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2008;24(5):529-533 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-007-9287-8
  9. Zuo J, Li X, Banerjee S, Han E, Majumdar S. Parallel imaging of knee cartilage at 3 Tesla. J Magn Reson Imaging 2007;26(4):1001-1009 https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.21122
  10. Murakami JW, Weinberger E, Tsuruda JS, Mitchell JD, Yuan C. Multislab three-dimensional T2-weighted fast spin-echo imaging of the hippocampus: sequence optimization. J Magn Reson Imaging 1995;5(3):309-315 https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.1880050315
  11. Balu N, Chu B, Hatsukami TS, Yuan C, Yarnykh VL. Comparison between 2D and 3D high-resolution black-blood techniques for carotid artery wall imaging in clinically significant atherosclerosis. J Magn Reson Imaging 2008;27(4):918-924 https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.21282
  12. Meara SJ, Barker GJ. Impact of incidental magnetization transfer effects on inversion-recovery sequences that use a fast spinecho readout. Magn Reson Med 2007;58(4):825-829 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.21338
  13. Fernandez-Seara MA, Wang Z, Wang J, Rao HY, Guenther M, Feinberg DA, Detre JA. Continuous arterial spin labeling per-fusion measurements using single shot 3D GRASE at 3 T. Magn Reson Med 2005;54(5):1241-1247 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.20674
  14. Wetzel SG, Johnson G, Tan AG, Cha S, Knopp EA, Lee VS, Thomasson D, Rofsky NM. Three-dimensional, T1-weighted gradient-echo imaging of the brain with a volumetric interpolated examination. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2002;23(6):995-1002
  15. Mugler JP, 3rd, Brookeman JR. Rapid three-dimensional T1-weighted MR imaging with the MP-RAGE sequence. J Magn Reson Imaging 1991;1(5):561-567 https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.1880010509
  16. de Lange EE, Mugler JP, 3rd, Bertolina JA, Gay SB, Janus CL, Brookeman JR. Magnetization prepared rapid gradient-echo (MP-RAGE) MR imaging of the liver: comparison with spin-echo imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 1991;9(4):469-476 https://doi.org/10.1016/0730-725X(91)90031-G
  17. Shah M, Ross JS, VanDyke C, Rudick RA, Goodkin DE, Obuchowski N, Modic MT. Volume T1-weighted gradient echo MRI in multiple sclerosis patients. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1992;16(5):731-736 https://doi.org/10.1097/00004728-199209000-00012
  18. Filippi M, Yousry T, Horsfield MA, Alkadhi H, Rovaris M, Campi A, Voltz R, Comi G. A high-resolution three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient echo sequence improves the detection of disease activity in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol 1996;40(6):901-907 https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410400612
  19. Liang L, Korogi Y, Sugahara T, Ikushima I, Shigematsu Y, Takahashi M, Provenzale JM. Normal structures in the intracranial dural sinuses: delineation with 3D contrast-enhanced magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo imaging sequence. AJNR Am J NeuroradioI 2002;23(10):1739-1746
  20. Kato Y, Higano S, Tamura H, Mugikura S, Umetsu A, Murata T, Takahashi S. Usefulness of Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted Sampling Perfection with Application-Optimized Contrasts by Using Different Flip Angle Evolutions in Detection of Small Brain Metastasis at 3T MR Imaging: Comparison with Magnetization-Prepared Rapid Acquisition of Gradient Echo Imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009 https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A1506
  21. Julin P, Melin T, Andersen C, Isberg B, Svensson L, Wahlund LO. Reliability of interactive three-dimensional brain volumetry using MP-RAGE magnetic resonance imaging. Psychiatry Res 1997;76(1):41-49 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-4927(97)00059-0
  22. Mugler JP, 3rd, Spraggins TA, Brookeman JR. T2-weighted three-dimensional MP-RAGE MR imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging 1991;1(6):731-737 https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.1880010621
  23. Oshio K, Jolesz FA, Melki PS, Mulkern RV. T2-weighted thin-section imaging with the multi slab three-dimensional RARE technique. J Magn Reson Imaging 1991;1(6):695-700 https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.1880010614
  24. Simon EM, McCaffery S, Rowley HA, Fischbein NJ, Shimikawa A, O'Brien JM. High-resolution 3D T2-weighted fast spin echo: new applications in the orbit. Neuroradiology 2003;45(7):489-492 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-003-0954-8
  25. Naganawa S, Koshikawa T, Fukatsu H, Ishigaki T, Aoki I, Ninomiya A. Fast recovery 3D fast spin-echo MR imaging of the inner ear at 3 T. AJNR Am J NeuroradioI 2002;23(2):299-302
  26. Alexander AL, Buswell HR, Sun Y, Chapman BE, Tsuruda JS, Parker DL. Intracranial black-blood MR angiography with high-resolution 3D fast spin echo. Magn Reson Med 1998;40(2):298-310 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.1910400216
  27. Barker GJ. 3D fast FLAIR: a CSF-nulled 3D fast spin-echo pulse sequence. Magn Reson Imaging 1998;16(7):715-720 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0730-725X(98)00084-8
  28. Tubridy N, Barker GJ, Macmanus DG, Moseley IF, Miller DH. Three-dimensional fast fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D fast FLAIR): a new MRI sequence which increases the detectable cerebral lesion load in multiple sclerosis. Br J Radiol 1998;71(848):840-845 https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.71.848.9828796
  29. Tan IL, Pouwels PJ, van Schijndel RA, Ader HJ, Manoliu RA, Barkhof F. Isotropic 3D fast FLAIR imaging of the brain in multiple sclerosis patients: initial experience. Eur Radiol 2002;12(3):559-567 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-001-1170-8
  30. Ciccarelli O, Brex PA, Thompson AJ, Miller DH. Disability and lesion load in MS: a reassessment with MS functional composite score and 3D fast FLAIR. J NeuroI 2002;249(1):18-24
  31. Epstein FH, Mugler JP, 3rd, Brookeman JR. Optimization of parameter values for complex pulse sequences by simulated annealing: application to 3D MP-RAGE imaging of the brain. Magn Reson Med 1994;31(2):164-177 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.1910310210
  32. Williams LA, DeVito TJ, Winter JD, Orr TN, Thompson RT, Gelman N. Optimization of 3D MP-RAGE for neonatal brain imaging at 3.0 T. Magn Reson Imaging 2007;25(8):1162-1170 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mri.2007.01.119
  33. Conklin J, Winter JD, Thompson RT, Gelman N. High-contrast 3D neonatal brain imaging with combined T1-and T2-weighted MP-RAGE. Magn Reson Med 2008;59(5):1190-1196 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.21548
  34. Busse RF, Brau AC, Vu A, Michelich CR, Bayram E, Kijowski R, Reeder SB, Rowley HA. Effects of refocusing flip angle modulation and view ordering in 3D fast spin echo. Magn Reson Med 2008;60(3):640-649 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.21680
  35. Xiao Z, Hoge WS, Mulkern RV, Zhao L, Hu G, Kyriakos WE. Comparison of parallel MRI reconstruction methods for accelerated 3D fast spin-echo imaging. Magn Reson Med 2008;60(3):650-660 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.21679
  36. Chagla GH, Busse RF, Sydnor R, Rowley HA, Turski PA. Three-dimensional fluid attenuated inversion recovery imaging with isotropic resolution and nonselective adiabatic inversion provides improved three-dimensional visualization and cerebrospinal fluid suppression compared to two-dimensional flair at 3 tesla. Invest RadioI 2008;43(8):547-551 https://doi.org/10.1097/RLI.0b013e3181814d28
  37. Sodickson DK, Manning WJ. Simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics (SMASH): fast imaging with radiofrequency coil arrays. Magn Reson Med 1997;38(4):591-603 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.1910380414
  38. Pruessmann KP, Weiger M, Scheidegger MB, Boesiger P. SENSE: sensitivity encoding for fast MRI. Magn Reson Med 1999;42(5):952-962 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1522-2594(199911)42:5<952::AID-MRM16>3.0.CO;2-S
  39. Griswold MA, Jakob PM, Nittka M, Goldfarb JW, Haase A. Partially parallel imaging with localized sensitivities (PILS). Magn Reson Med 2000;44(4):602-609 https://doi.org/10.1002/1522-2594(200010)44:4<602::AID-MRM14>3.0.CO;2-5
  40. Kyriakos WE, Panych LP, Kacher DF, Westin CF, Bao SM, Mulkern RV, Jolesz FA. Sensitivity profiles from an array of coils for encoding and reconstruction in parallel(SPACERIP). Magn Reson Med 2000;44(2):301-308 https://doi.org/10.1002/1522-2594(200008)44:2<301::AID-MRM18>3.0.CO;2-D
  41. Bydder M, Larkman DJ, Hajnal JV. Generalized SMASH imaging. Magn Reson Med 2002;47(1):160-170 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.10044
  42. Griswold MA, Jakob PM, Heidemann RM, Nittka M, Jellus V, Wang J, Kiefer B, Haase A. Generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA). Magn Reson Med 2002;47(6):1202-1210 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.10171
  43. Yeh EN, McKenzie CA, Ohliger MA, Sodickson DK. Parallel magnetic resonance imaging with adaptive radius in k-space (PARS): constrained image reconstruction using k-space locality in radiofrequency coil encoded data. Magn Reson Med 2005;53(6):1383-1392 https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.20490
  44. Park HJ, Youn T, Jeong SO, Oh MK, Kim SY, Kim EY. SENSE factors for reliable cortical thickness measurement. Neuroimage 2008;40(1):187-196 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.11.013