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PURPOSE: Motion artifact limits the clinical translation of high-field MR. We present an optical prospective motion correction system for 7 Tesla MRI using a custom-built, within-coil camera to track an optical marker mounted on a subject. METHODS: The camera was constructed to fit between the transmit-receive coils with direct line of sight to a forehead-mounted marker, improving upon prior mouthpiece work at 7 Tesla MRI. We validated the system by acquiring a 3D-IR-FSPGR on a phantom with deliberate motion applied. The same 3D-IR-FSPGR and a 2D gradient echo were then acquired on 7 volunteers, with/without deliberate motion and with/without motion correction. Three neuroradiologists blindly assessed image quality. In 1 subject, an ultrahigh-resolution 2D gradient echo with 4 averages was acquired with motion correction. Four single-average acquisitions were then acquired serially, with the subject allowed to move between acquisitions. A fifth single-average 2D gradient echo was acquired following subject removal and reentry. RESULTS: In both the phantom and human subjects, deliberate and involuntary motion were well corrected. Despite marked levels of motion, high-quality images were produced without spurious artifacts. The quantitative ratings confirmed significant improvements in image quality in the absence and presence of deliberate motion across both acquisitions (P < .001). The system enabled ultrahigh-resolution visualization of the hippocampus during a long scan and robust alignment of serially acquired scans with interspersed movement. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate the use of a within-coil camera to perform optical prospective motion correction and ultrahigh-resolution imaging at 7 Tesla MRI. The setup does not require a mouthpiece, which could improve accessibility of motion correction during 7 Tesla MRI exams.

A pedagogical review of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and double inversion recovery (DIR) imaging is conducted in this article. The basics of the two pulse sequences are first described, including the details of the inversion preparation and imaging sequences with accompanying mathematical formulae for choosing the inversion time in a variety of scenarios for use on clinical MRI scanners. Magnetization preparation (or T2prep), a strategy for improving image signal-to-noise ratio and contrast and reducing T1 weighting at high field strengths, is also described. Lastly, image artifacts commonly associated with FLAIR and DIR are described with clinical examples, to help avoid misdiagnosis. Level of evidence 5 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1590-1600.

A significant challenge during high-resolution PET brain imaging on PET/MR scanners is patient head motion. This challenge is particularly significant for clinical patient populations who struggle to remain motionless in the scanner for long periods of time. Head motion also affects the MR scan data. An optical motion tracking technique, which has already been demonstrated to perform MR motion correction during acquisition, is used with a list-mode PET reconstruction algorithm to correct the motion for each recorded event and produce a corrected reconstruction. The technique is demonstrated on real Alzheimer’s disease patient data for the GE SIGNA PET/MR scanner.

To assess the utility of the motion correction method with prospective motion correction (PROMO) in a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis for ‘uncooperative’ patient populations. High-resolution 3D T1-weighted imaging both with and without PROMO were performed in 33 uncooperative patients with Parkinson's disease (n = 11) or dementia (n = 22). We compared the grey matter (GM) volumes and cortical thickness between the scans with and without PROMO. For the mean total GM volume with the VBM analysis, the scan without PROMO showed a significantly smaller volume than that with PROMO (p

In MRI, subject motion results in image artifacts. High-resolution 3D scans, like MPRAGE, are particularly susceptible to motion because of long scan times and acquisition of data over multiple-shots. Such motion related artifacts have been shown to cause a bias in cortical measures extracted from segmentation of high-resolution MPRAGE images. Prospective motion correction (PMC) techniques have been developed to help mitigate artifacts due to subject motion. In this work, high-resolution MPRAGE images are acquired during intentional head motion to evaluate the effectiveness of navigator-based PMC techniques to improve both the accuracy and reproducibility of cortical morphometry measures obtained from image segmentation. The contribution of reacquiring segments of k-space affected by motion to the overall performance of PMC is assessed. Additionally, the effect of subject motion on subcortical structure volumes is investigated. In the presence of head motion, navigator-based PMC is shown to improve both the accuracy and reproducibility of cortical and subcortical measures. It is shown that reacquiring segments of k-space data that are corrupted by motion is an essential part of navigator-based PMC performance. Subcortical structure volumes are not affected by motion in the same way as cortical measures; there is not a consistent underestimation.

Purpose To investigate a new variable spatiotemporal resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI method termed DIfferential Subsampling with Cartesian Ordering (DISCO), for imaging of breast cancer. Materials and Methods DISCO combines variable density, pseudorandom k-space segmentation and two-point Dixon fat–water separation for high spatiotemporal resolution breast DCE MRI. During the contrast wash-in phase, view sharing is used to achieve high temporal resolution. Forty patients referred for breast MRI were imaged, 26 using the proposed DISCO sequence and 14 using a conventional low-spatial-resolution dynamic sequence (VIBRANT-FLEX) on a 3 Tesla scanner. DISCO dynamic images from 14 patients were compared with VIBRANT-FLEX images from 14 other patients. The image quality assessed by radiologist image ranking in a blinded manner, and the temporal characteristics of the two sequences were compared. Results A spatial resolution of 1.1 × 1.1 × 1.2 mm3 (160 slices, 28 cm field of view) was achieved with axial bilateral coverage in 120 s. Dynamic images with ∼9 s effective temporal resolution were generated during the 2-min contrast wash-in phase. The image quality of DISCO dynamic images ranked significantly higher than low spatial resolution VIBRANT-FLEX images (19.5 versus 9.5, Mann-Whitney U-test P = 0.00914), with no significant differences in the maximum slope of aortic enhancement. Conclusion DISCO is a promising variable-spatiotemporal-resolution imaging sequence for capturing the dynamics of rapidly enhancing tumors as well as structural features postcontrast. A near 1-mm isotropic spatial resolution was achieved with postcontrast static phase images in 120 s and dynamic phase images acquired in 9 s per phase. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:1392–1399. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PROspective MOtion correction (PROMO) can prevent motion artefacts. The aim of this study was to determine whether brain structure measurements of motion-corrected images with PROMO were reliable and equivalent to conventional images without motion artefacts. The following T1-weighted images were obtained in healthy subjects: (A) resting scans with and without PROMO and (B) two types of motion scans (“side-to-side” and “nodding” motions) with and without PROMO. The total gray matter volumes and cortical thicknesses were significantly decreased in motion scans without PROMO as compared to the resting scans without PROMO (p

A new technique for prospectively correcting head motion (called PROMO) during acquisition of high-resolution MRI scans has been developed to reduce motion artifacts. To evaluate the efficacy of PROMO, four T1-weighted image volumes (two with PROMO enabled, two uncorrected) were acquired for each of nine children. A radiologist, blind to whether PROMO was used, rated image quality and artifacts on all sagittal slices of every volume. These ratings were significantly better in scans collected with PROMO relative to those collected without PROMO (Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.0001). The use of PROMO, especially in motion-prone patients, should improve the accuracy of measurements made for clinical care and research, and potentially reduce the need for sedation in children.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of applying the shells trajectory to single-phase contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography. Materials and Methods: Several methods were developed to overcome the challenges of the clinical implementation of shells including off-resonance blurring (eg, from lipid signal), aliasing artifacts, and long reconstruction times. These methods included: 1) variable TR with variable readout length to reduce fat signal and off-resonance blurring; 2) variable sampling density to suppress aliasing artifacts while minimizing acquisition time penalty; and 3) an online 3D gridding algorithm that reconstructed an 8-channel, 2403 image volume set. Both phantom and human studies were performed to establish the initial feasibility of the methods. Results: Phantom and human study results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed methods. Shells with variable TR and readout length further suppressed the fat signal compared to the fixed-TR shells acquisition. Reduced image aliasing was achieved with minimal scan time penalty when a variable sampling density technique was used. The fast online reconstruction algorithm completed in 2 minutes at the scanner console, providing a timely image display in a clinical setting. Conclusion: It was demonstrated that the use of the shells trajectory is feasible in a clinical setting to acquire intracranial angiograms with high spatial resolution. Preliminary results demonstrate effective venous suppression in the cavernous sinuses and jugular vein region. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1101–1109. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Purpose To develop a gated single-breathhold, high temporal resolution three-dimensional (3D) CINE imaging technique and to evaluate its accuracy in volumetric and functional quantification in patients with chronic myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods A 3D CINE steady-state free precession (SSFP) pulse sequence was developed incorporating variable temporal sampling of the low and high spatial frequency k-space data to reduce breathhold time and parallel imaging to increase temporal resolution. Reconstruction with retrospective interpolation enabled complete R-R interval coverage. Feasibility was assessed in eight patients with chronic myocardial infarction and ventricular functional values were compared to those of a 2D CINE acquisition. Results There was no significant difference between the 3D CINE and 2D CINE for end-diastolic volume (168 ± 73 vs. 177 ± 59 mL, respectively; P < 0.27), end-systolic volume (81 ± 62 vs. 79 ± 53 mL; P < 0.81), and ejection fraction (EF) measurements (55 ± 14% vs. 58 ± 14%; P < 0.14). The mean difference in EF was less than 2.5%. A wall motion assessment indicated a good agreement, with a weighted kappa value of 0.62. Conclusion High temporal resolution 3D CINE SSFP imaging of the whole heart can be obtained in a single breathhold and yield ventricular function measurements similar to 2D CINE methods. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;25:1141–1146. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Introduction Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is now in its 10th year. The primary objective of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) core of ADNI has been to improve methods for clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related disorders. Methods We review the contributions of the MRI core from present and past cycles of ADNI (ADNI-1, -Grand Opportunity and -2). We also review plans for the future-ADNI-3. Results Contributions of the MRI core include creating standardized acquisition protocols and quality control methods; examining the effect of technical features of image acquisition and analysis on outcome metrics; deriving sample size estimates for future trials based on those outcomes; and piloting the potential utility of MR perfusion, diffusion, and functional connectivity measures in multicenter clinical trials. Discussion Over the past decade the MRI core of ADNI has fulfilled its mandate of improving methods for clinical trials in AD and will continue to do so in the future.

Purpose To validate partial Fourier phase contrast magnetic resonance (PC MR) with full number of excitation (NEX) PC MR measurements in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods MR flow measurements were performed using a partial Fourier and a full NEX PC MR sequence in a flow phantom and in 10 popliteal and renal arteries of 10 different healthy volunteers. Average velocity, peak velocity, and flow results were calculated and compared with regression analysis. Results Excellent correlations in average velocities (r = 0.99, P < 0.001), peak velocities (r = 0.99, P < 0.001), and flow rates (r = 0.98, P < 0.001) were demonstrated in vitro between the two different acquisitions. For the popliteal arteries there was excellent correlation between peak velocities for both acquisitions (r = 0.98, P < 0.0001); the correlation of average velocity measurements when using all data points in the cardiac cycle for all volunteers was 0.96 (P < 0.001). For the renal arteries the same comparison resulted in a good correlation for average velocity (0.93, P < 0.001) and peak velocity measurements (r = 0.91, P = 0.002), although the correlation coefficient for flow rates was 0.88 (P = 0.004). Blurring of the vessel margins was consistently observed on magnitude images acquired with the partial Fourier method, causing overestimation of the vessel area and some error in the flow measurements. Conclusion Partial Fourier PC MR is able to provide comparable average and peak velocity values when using 1 NEX PC MRI as a reference. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

To develop and evaluate a multiphasic contrast-enhanced MRI method called DIfferential Sub-sampling with Cartesian Ordering (DISCO) for abdominal imaging.A three-dimensional, variable density pseudo-random k-space segmentation scheme was developed and combined with a Dixon-based fat-water separation algorithm to generate high temporal resolution images with robust fat suppression and without compromise in spatial resolution or coverage. With institutional review board approval and informed consent, 11 consecutive patients referred for abdominal MRI at 3 Tesla (T) were imaged with both DISCO and a routine clinical three-dimensional SPGR-Dixon (LAVA FLEX) sequence. All images were graded by two radiologists using quality of fat suppression, severity of artifacts, and overall image quality as scoring criteria. For assessment of arterial phase capture efficiency, the number of temporal phases with angiographic phase and hepatic arterial phase was recorded.There were no significant differences in quality of fat suppression, artifact severity or overall image quality between DISCO and LAVA FLEX images (P0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test). The angiographic and arterial phases were captured in all 11 patients scanned using the DISCO acquisition (mean number of phases were two and three, respectively).DISCO effectively captures the fast dynamics of abdominal pathology such as hyperenhancing hepatic lesions with a high spatio-temporal resolution. Typically, 1.1 × 1.5 × 3 mm spatial resolution over 60 slices was achieved with a temporal resolution of 4-5 s.

Introduction Myocardial delayed enhancement (E) using T1-weighted inversion-recovery gradient-echo imaging has become the gold standard for assessing myocardial viability. One drawback of the technique is the requirement for multiple long breath holds in order to cover the entire heart. Such an acquisition can be difficult for the patient and may cause degraded image quality. Partial Fourier and parallel imaging can be used to reduce scan time; however, both approaches noticeably reduce the already low signal-tonoise ratio (SNR) and can potentially introducing additional artifacts.

Artifacts caused by patient motion during scanning remain a serious problem in most MRI applications. The prospective motion correction technique attempts to address this problem at its source by keeping the measurement coordinate system fixed with respect to the patient throughout the entire scan process. In this study, a new image-based approach for prospective motion correction is described, which utilizes three orthogonal two-dimensional spiral navigator acquisitions, along with a flexible image-based tracking method based on the extended Kalman filter algorithm for online motion measurement. The spiral navigator/extended Kalman filter framework offers the advantages of image-domain tracking within patient-specific regions-of-interest and reduced sensitivity to off-resonance-induced corruption of rigid-body motion estimates. The performance of the method was tested using offline computer simulations and online in vivo head motion experiments. In vivo validation results covering a broad range of staged head motions indicate a steady-state error of less than 10% of the motion magnitude, even for large compound motions that included rotations over 15 deg. A preliminary in vivo application in three-dimensional inversion recovery spoiled gradient echo (IR-SPGR) and three-dimensional fast spin echo (FSE) sequences demonstrates the effectiveness of the spiral navigator/extended Kalman filter framework for correcting three-dimensional rigid-body head motion artifacts prospectively in high-resolution three-dimensional MRI scans.

Purpose: To determine the reliability of arterial phase capture and evaluate hypervascular lesion contrast kinetics with a combined view-sharing and parallel imaging dynamic contrast-enhanced acquisition, DIfferential Sub-sampling with Cartesian Ordering (DISCO), in patients with known chronic liver disease. Methods: A retrospective review of 3T MR images from 26 patients with known chronic liver disease referred for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance or post-treatment follow up was performed. After administration of a gadolinium-based contrast agent, a multiphasic acquisition was obtained in a 28 s breath-hold, from which seven sequential post-contrast image volumes were reconstructed. Results: The late arterial phase was successfully captured in all cases (26/26, 95% CI 87-100%). Images obtained 26 s post-injection had the highest frequency of late arterial phase capture (20/26) and lesion detection (23/26) of any individual post-contrast time; however, the multiphasic data resulted in a significantly higher frequency of late arterial phase capture (26/26, p=0.03) and a higher relative contrast (5.37+/-0.97 versus 7.10+/-0.98, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Multiphasic acquisition with combined view-sharing and parallel imaging reliably captures the late arterial phase and provides sufficient temporal resolution to characterize hepatic lesion contrast kinetics in patients with chronic liver disease while maintaining high spatial resolution.

This work presents an efficient method for achieving steady state in multi-slice 2D balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging of cardiac function. With current techniques, data acquisition for each slice is preceded by one or two heartbeats of dummy excitations. Depending on the number of heartbeats required for data acquisition, these dummy heartbeats can represent a large fraction of the total imaging time. As described here, FIESTA-SP (FIESTA with steady-state preparation) increases the imaging efficiency to nearly 100% by eliminating dummy heartbeats. Steady state for each slice is achieved using a linear flip angle series of excitations during the first cardiac phase of the first heartbeat for each slice. Because imaging proceeds immediately from one slice to the next, a heretofore-unseen issue arises where residual magnetization from each slice contaminates subsequent acquisitions. Accelerating the approach to steady state for each slice and eliminating slice cross talk are important for both multi-slice and interactive real-time imaging.

To compare fluorescent microsphere measurements of myocardial blood flow (MBF) with qualitative, semiquantitative, and fully quantitative measurements of first-pass perfusion at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.Coronary artery occlusion or intracoronary adenosine infusion was successfully performed in 16 beagles; both procedures were performed simultaneously in one animal. MBF was assessed at microsphere analysis. First-pass myocardial perfusion MR imaging was performed during a dual-bolus administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine (0.0025 mmol/kg followed by 0.10 mmol/kg). The absolute myocardial perfusion at MR imaging was calculated by using Fermi function deconvolution methods. Qualitative, semiquantitative, and absolute myocardial perfusion MR imaging measurements were compared with microsphere MBF measurements by using paired t tests, linear correlation, and Bland-Altman analysis.Fully quantitative (ie, absolute) analysis of MBF at MR imaging correlated with microsphere MBF measurement (r = 0.95, P.001) across the full range of blood flow rates encountered (from 0 to5.0 mL/min/g). Similar close correlations were observed in endocardial and epicardial segments (representing approximately 0.85 g of the myocardium). With modest increases in MBF, qualitative measurements plateaued in the hyperemic zones. Semiquantitative measurements did not correlate with MBF as well (r = 0.69-0.89); they plateaued around 3.0 mL/min/g.Dual-bolus MR imaging enabled accurate measurement of absolute epicardial and endocardial perfusion across a wide range of blood flow rates (0 to5.0 mL/min/g). Use of qualitative MR imaging measures such as the contrast enhancement ratio led to substantially underestimated hyperemic blood flow measurements.

ObjectivesTo identify an accurate and reproducible method to define myocardial infarct (MI) size, we conducted a study in a closed-chest canine model of acute myocardial infarction, in which MI size was measured using different thresholding techniques and by imaging at different delay times after contrast administration.BackgroundThe MI size by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) is directly related to long-term prognosis. However, previous measurements were done using nonuniform methods and tended to overestimate nonviable areas.MethodsThirteen animals underwent 90 min of coronary artery occlusion, followed by reperfusion. The CE-MRI data were acquired within 24 h after reperfusion and compared with triphenyltetrazolium chloride pathology. In the first nine animals, images were obtained ∼15 min after gadolinium diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) using an inversion-recovery gradient-echo pulse sequence. To identify the most accurate method, MI size by CE-MRI was measured visually and by semi-automatic thresholding techniques, using different criteria. In four additional animals, images were acquired every 6 min until 30 min after Gd-DTPA.ResultsPostmortem MI size was 13.5 ± 2.6% of left ventricular volume. Semi-automatic techniques, using full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) criterion, correlated best with postmortem data (r2= 0.94, p < 0.001; results confirmed by Bland-Altman plots). Using FWHM, there was no difference in MI size between different delay times after contrast (15.2 ± 2.9% to 14.5 ± 4.2% at 6 and 30 min, respectively; p = NS).ConclusionsWhen an objective technique is used to define MI size by CE-MRI, accurate infarct size measurements can be obtained from images obtained up to 30 min after contrast administration.