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High-Resolution DCE-MRI of the Pituitary Gland Using Radial k-Space Acquisition with Compressed Sensing
M C Rossi Espagnet1, L Bangiyev2, M Haber2
1From the Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York. camilla.rossiespagnet@gmail.com.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|May 9, 2015
Summary
This study shows that a new MRI technique, golden-angle radial sparse parallel imaging, can assess pituitary gland permeability. The optimal imaging time was found to be 120 seconds for dynamic pituitary gland evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- The pituitary gland is outside the blood-brain barrier, and standard MRI sequences do not assess its intrinsic permeability.
- Dynamic T1-weighted contrast-enhanced sequences are standard but limited in evaluating pituitary gland permeability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the utility of radial volumetric interpolated brain examination (VIBE) with golden-angle radial sparse parallel technique for assessing pituitary gland permeability.
- To evaluate individual pituitary components and differential enhancement areas.
- To optimize imaging acquisition time for dynamic pituitary gland evaluation.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 52 patients (25 normal, 27 with microadenoma) was conducted.
- Radial VIBE sequences using golden-angle radial sparse parallel technique were analyzed using an ROI-based method.
- Signal-time curves and permeability measures were obtained for pituitary structures and enhancement areas.
Main Results:
- Posterior pituitary and median eminence showed faster wash-in and lower peak enhancement than the anterior pituitary (P < .005).
- A 120-second acquisition time was identified as ideal for dynamic pituitary imaging.
- Signal-time curves differentiated simple cysts from microadenomas without clinical history.
Conclusions:
- The golden-angle radial sparse parallel technique effectively evaluates pituitary gland permeability.
- 120 seconds is confirmed as the optimal acquisition time for dynamic pituitary imaging.
- This technique aids in distinguishing pituitary lesions based on signal-time curve characteristics.
