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Whole brain quantitative T2 MRI across multiple scanners with dual echo FSE: applications to AD, MCI, and normal
Corinna M Bauer1, Hernán Jara, Ron Killiany
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, 700 Albany Street, W701 Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Abstract:
The ability to pool data from multiple MRI scanners is becoming increasingly important with the influx in multi-site research studies. Fast spin echo (FSE) dual spin echo sequences are often chosen for such studies based principally on their short acquisition time and the clinically useful contrasts they provide for assessing gross pathology. The practicality of measuring FSE-T2 relaxation properties has rarely been assessed. Here, FSE-T2 relaxation properties are examined across the three main scanner vendors (General Electric (GE), Philips, and Siemens). The American College of Radiology (ACR) phantom was scanned on four 1.5T platforms (two GE, one Philips, and one Siemens) to determine if the dual echo pulse sequence is susceptible to vendor-based variance. In addition, data from 85 subjects spanning the spectrum of normal aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) was obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) to affirm the presence of any phantom based between vendor variance and determine the relationship between this variance and disease. FSE-T2 relaxation properties, including peak FSE-T2 and histogram width, were calculated for each phantom and human subject. Direct correspondence was found between the phantom and human subject data. Peak FSE-T2 of Siemens scanners was consistently at least 20ms prolonged compared to GE and Philips. Siemens scanners showed broader FSE-T2 histograms than the other scanners. Greater variance was observed across GE scanners than either Philips or Siemens. FSE-T2 differences were much greater with scanner vendor than between diagnostic groups, as no significant changes in peak FSE-T2 or histogram width between normal aged, MCI, and AD subject groups were observed. These results indicate that whole brain histogram measures are not sensitive enough to detect FSE-T2 changes between normal aging, MCI, and AD and that FSE-T2 is highly variable across scanner vendors.
Insights
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner vendor significantly impacts Fast Spin Echo T2 (FSE-T2) relaxation properties, not disease status. This variability is crucial for multi-site research, requiring careful consideration of scanner differences in data analysis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Neuroimaging
- Biophysics
Background:
- Multi-site research studies increasingly require pooling data from diverse Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners.
- Fast Spin Echo (FSE) dual echo sequences are favored for their speed and ability to reveal gross pathology.
- Assessing the reliability of FSE T2 relaxation properties across different MRI vendors is critical for multi-site studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the variability of FSE T2 relaxation properties across major MRI scanner vendors (GE, Philips, Siemens).
- To determine if vendor-based differences in FSE T2 properties are detectable in human subjects with normal aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Main Methods:
- Scanned the American College of Radiology (ACR) phantom on four 1.5T MRI platforms (GE, Philips, Siemens).
- Analyzed FSE T2 relaxation properties (peak FSE-T2, histogram width) from phantom and human subject data (n=85) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI).
- Compared FSE T2 properties between scanner vendors and across diagnostic groups (normal aging, MCI, AD).
Main Results:
- Significant vendor-based variance in FSE T2 relaxation properties was observed, with Siemens scanners showing prolonged peak FSE-T2 (≥20ms) and broader histograms compared to GE and Philips.
- Greater variance in FSE T2 properties was noted across GE scanners than across Philips or Siemens scanners.
- No significant differences in peak FSE-T2 or histogram width were found between normal aging, MCI, and AD subject groups, indicating whole-brain histogram measures lack sensitivity to detect disease-related changes.
Conclusions:
- FSE T2 relaxation properties exhibit substantial variability across MRI scanner vendors, potentially confounding multi-site research.
- Scanner vendor differences in FSE T2 properties are more pronounced than differences observed between normal aging, MCI, and AD cohorts.
- Whole-brain histogram measures of FSE T2 are not sensitive enough to detect neurodegenerative changes in aging and Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the need for vendor-specific calibration or advanced analysis techniques.
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