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In vivo animal functional MRI: improved image quality with a body-adapted mold
Willy Landuyt1, Stefan Sunaert, Davide Farina
1Department of Experimental Radiobiology/LEO, Catholic University of Leuven (KUL), University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. willy.landuyt@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Purpose:
To reduce functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) susceptibility distortion at the air/tissue interphase in animal experiments.
Materials And Methods:
We investigated the applicability of a body-adaptable flexible mold consisting of a fast-setting alginate. This technique was implemented for subcutaneous growing tumors in rats and for the brains of monkeys.
Results:
The T(2)*-weighted gradient-echo, echo-planar imaging (GE-EPI) data obtained with the body-adapted mold showed a reduction of susceptibility artifacts and improved image quality. With both rat tumor and monkey brain, an optimized match with the anatomical T(1) images was possible.
Conclusion:
The present mold methodology is a rapid, easy, and inexpensive way to reduce magnetic susceptibility during animal GE-EPI.