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Voxel spread function method for correction of magnetic field inhomogeneity effects in quantitative

Dmitriy A Yablonskiy1, Alexander L Sukstanskii, Jie Luo

  • 1Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
|December 13, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study introduces a new method to correct magnetic field inhomogeneities in quantitative MRI. The technique improves the accuracy of effective transverse relaxation rate mapping for better tissue property analysis.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Imaging
  • Biophysics
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background:

  • Macroscopic magnetic field inhomogeneities significantly degrade Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) image quality.
  • These inhomogeneities introduce bias and corruption in quantitative MRI measurements of biological tissue parameters.
  • Accurate quantification of tissue properties is crucial for clinical diagnosis and research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a novel method for correcting macroscopic magnetic field inhomogeneities.
  • To enable accurate quantitative measurements in various gradient-echo-based MRI techniques.
  • To improve the reliability of MRI-based biological tissue parameter quantification.

Main Methods:

  • Reanalyzed gradient echo MRI signal formation theory in the presence of background field inhomogeneities.
  • Derived equations for correcting field inhomogeneity effects using phase and magnitude data.
  • Verified the theory using computer simulations, phantom studies, and in vivo human data with multi-gradient echo sequences.

Main Results:

  • The developed technique effectively corrects for macroscopic magnetic field inhomogeneities.
  • Voxel spread function effects were incorporated, yielding artifact-free effective transverse relaxation rate maps.
  • Successful correction was demonstrated across simulated, phantom, and in vivo human datasets, excluding areas with extreme field gradients.

Conclusions:

  • The voxel spread function method enables accurate quantification of effective transverse relaxation rate-related tissue properties.
  • This technique has the potential to generate novel MRI biomarkers for biological tissue properties.
  • These biomarkers could serve as valuable surrogates, similar to established relaxation rate constants in MRI.
Keywords:
MRIgradient echomagnetic field inhomogeneitiesmagnetic susceptibility

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