Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quantification of Pulmonary Perfusion using Calibrated Arterial Spin Labeling
Published on: May 30, 2011
Influence of contrast agent dispersion on bolus-based MRI myocardial perfusion measurements: A computational fluid
Johannes Martens1,2, Sabine Panzer1,2, Jeroen van den Wijngaard3,4
1Chair of Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospitals Würzburg, Germany.
Insights
Contrast agent dispersion in coronary arteries causes significant errors in myocardial blood flow and perfusion reserve quantification. This study models these effects to improve accuracy in dynamic perfusion measurements.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Medical imaging analysis
- Computational fluid dynamics
Background:
- Dynamic contrast agent (CA) perfusion imaging is crucial for assessing heart function.
- CA bolus dispersion in coronary arteries introduces systematic errors in quantitative measurements.
- Understanding these errors is vital for accurate myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an in-silico model of coronary arteries down to pre-arteriolar vessels.
- To investigate the impact of CA bolus dispersion on MBF and MPR quantification.
- To quantify the errors introduced by CA dispersion in dynamic perfusion measurements.
Main Methods:
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis using realistic 3D models of porcine coronary artery trees.
- Simulations of blood flow and CA transport at rest and under stress with advanced boundary conditions.
- Evaluation of CA dispersion using concentration time curves and vascular transport functions.
Main Results:
- CA dispersion increases with distance and vessel diameter, decreasing with higher flow velocities.
- Significant average errors in MBF quantification were observed: -28% ± 16% at rest and -8.5% ± 3.3% under stress.
- Average MPR quantification error was 26% ± 22%, with variations between left and right coronary trees.
Conclusions:
- CA dispersion is influenced by vessel size and vascular length, creating complex effects.
- Quantification errors from CA dispersion significantly distort dynamic CA bolus-based perfusion measurements.
- Future advancements in quantitative perfusion imaging may highlight these systematic errors more prominently.
Purpose:
Bolus-based dynamic contrast agent (CA) perfusion measurements of the heart are subject to systematic errors due to CA bolus dispersion in the coronary arteries. To better understand these effects on quantification of myocardial blood flow and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR), an in-silico model of the coronary arteries down to the pre-arteriolar vessels has been developed.
Methods:
In this work, a computational fluid dynamics analysis is performed to investigate these errors on the basis of realistic 3D models of the left and right porcine coronary artery trees, including vessels at the pre-arteriolar level. Using advanced boundary conditions, simulations of blood flow and CA transport are conducted at rest and under stress. These are evaluated with regard to dispersion (assessed by the width of CA concentration time curves and associated vascular transport functions) and errors of myocardial blood flow and myocardial perfusion reserve quantification.
Results:
Contrast agent dispersion increases with traveled distance as well as vessel diameter, and decreases with higher flow velocities. Overall, the average myocardial blood flow errors are -28% ± 16% and -8.5% ± 3.3% at rest and stress, respectively, and the average myocardial perfusion reserve error is 26% ± 22%. The calculated values are different in the left and right coronary tree.
Conclusion:
Contrast agent dispersion is dependent on a complex interplay of several different factors characterizing the cardiovascular bed, including vessel size and integrated vascular length. Quantification errors evoked by the observed CA dispersion show nonnegligible distortion in dynamic CA bolus-based perfusion measurements. We expect future improvements of quantitative perfusion measurements to make the systematic errors described here more apparent.
More Related Videos
09:36A Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Computational Protocol for Analysis of Plaque Morphology and Hemodynamics in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis
Published on: August 12, 2025
08:13In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:17Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this...
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging
01:21Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for...