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Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine

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Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research Article

Assessment of MRI contrast agent concentration by quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM): application to estimation of cerebral blood volume during steady state

Authors: Emelie Lind, Linda Knutsson, Robin Kämpe, Freddy Ståhlberg, Ronnie Wirestam

Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine | Issue 6/2017

Abstract

Objective

One major issue in dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI (DSC-MRI) is to accurately determine contrast agent (CA) concentration, since T2* relaxivity in vivo is generally unknown and varies between blood and tissue. In this study, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) was used for quantification of CA concentration.

Materials and methods

A DSC-MRI protocol, including phase data acquisition, was applied to 20 healthy volunteers in a test–retest study. By selecting a CSF reference region of interest (ROI), the values of all QSM images were shifted to show no CA-induced change in CSF. CA concentration and cerebral blood volume (CBV) were estimated using shifted QSM data. CSF reference ROI optimization was evaluated by investigation of CBV repeatability. The CBV age dependence was analysed and tissue T2* relaxivity was estimated.

Results

The best repeatability of CBV, using an optimal CSF reference ROI, showed test-versus-retest correlations of r = 0.81 and r = 0.91 for white and grey matter, respectively. A slight CBV decrease with age was observed, and the estimated in vivo T2* relaxivity was 85 mM⁻¹s⁻¹.

Conclusion

Provided that a carefully selected CSF reference ROI is used to shift QSM image values, susceptibility information can be used to estimate concentration of contrast agent and to calculate CBV.

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Title: Assessment of MRI contrast agent concentration by quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM): application to estimation of cerebral blood volume during steady state
Authors: Emelie Lind
Linda Knutsson
Robin Kämpe
Freddy Ståhlberg
Ronnie Wirestam
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine / Issue 6/2017
Print ISSN: 0968-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1352-8661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-017-0637-9

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Assessment of MRI contrast agent concentration by quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM): application to estimation of cerebral blood volume during steady state

Abstract

Objective

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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