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Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine

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01-10-2019 | Research Article

Evaluation of variable flip angle, MOLLI, SASHA, and IR-SNAPSHOT pulse sequences for T₁ relaxometry and extracellular volume imaging of the pancreas and liver

Authors: Temel Tirkes, Xuandong Zhao, Chen Lin, Alex Jordan Stuckey, Liang Li, Shivriman Giri, Dominik Nickel

Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine | Issue 5/2019

Abstract

Purpose

Compare fourT₁-mapping pulse sequences for T₁ relaxometry and extracellular volume (ECV) fraction of the pancreas and liver

Materials and methods

In vitro phase of this prospective study was performed on a T₁ phantom, followed by imaging 22 patients. Variable flip angle (VFA), modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI), prototype saturation recovery single-shot acquisition (SASHA), and prototype inversion recovery (IR-SNAPSHOT) pulse sequences were used to obtain T₁ and ECV maps on the same 1.5 T MR scanner using the same imaging protocol.

Results

In vitro tests showed almost perfect precision of MOLLI (ρ_c = 0.9998), SASHA (ρ_c = 0.9985), and IR-SNAPSHOT (ρ_c = 0.9976), while VFA showed relatively less, however, substantial precision (ρ_c = 0.9862). Results of patient scans showed similar ECV fraction of the liver (p = 0.08), pancreas (p = 0.43), and T₁ of the liver (p = 0.08) with all pulse sequences. T₁ of the pancreas with MOLLI, SASHA, and IR-SNAPSHOT was statistically similar (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

MOLLI, SASHA, and IR-SNAPSHOT provided almost perfect in vitro precision and similar T₁ during in vivo scans. Similar ECV fractions of the liver and pancreas were obtained with all sequences. More refinement of pulse sequences to provide sufficient spatial coverage in one breath hold together with high precision would be desirable in abdominal imaging.

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Title: Evaluation of variable flip angle, MOLLI, SASHA, and IR-SNAPSHOT pulse sequences for T1 relaxometry and extracellular volume imaging of the pancreas and liver
Authors: Temel Tirkes
Xuandong Zhao
Chen Lin
Alex Jordan Stuckey
Liang Li
Shivriman Giri
Dominik Nickel
Publication date: 01-10-2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine / Issue 5/2019
Print ISSN: 0968-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1352-8661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-019-00762-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Evaluation of variable flip angle, MOLLI, SASHA, and IR-SNAPSHOT pulse sequences for T₁ relaxometry and extracellular volume imaging of the pancreas and liver

Abstract

Purpose

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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