Improving Perfusion Measurement in DSC-MR Imaging with Multiecho Information for Arterial Input Function...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Neuroimaging
• Radiology

Background:

• Multiecho dynamic susceptibility contrast-MR imaging (DSC-MRI) is used for cerebral perfusion measurement, mitigating contrast agent T1 effects.
• Arterial input function (AIF) estimation is crucial for accurate DSC-MRI perfusion quantification.
• Current methods do not fully leverage multiecho data for AIF improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate using multiecho DSC-MRI data to automatically identify and exclude voxels with signal attenuation artifacts during AIF calculation.
• To enhance the accuracy of cerebral perfusion quantification by improving AIF estimation.

Main Methods:

• Compared postprocessing strategies for clinical multiecho DSC-MRI data.
• Developed methods to automatically identify and remove voxels with signal attenuation (truncation) artifacts.
• Utilized Pearson correlation coefficient between ΔR2* time-series from individual echo times (TEs).

Main Results:

• The Pearson correlation coefficient between ΔR2* time-series from individual TEs proved effective for automated AIF estimation.
• This method resulted in higher peak AIF values.
• The AIF shapes remained smooth and reliable.

Conclusions:

• Multiecho DSC-MRI information can significantly improve automatic AIF estimation.
• This approach enhances the automatic selection of voxels for AIF measurement.
• The findings are clinically relevant for accurate cerebral perfusion quantification.