Temporal Shift When Comparing Contrast-Agent Concentration Curves Estimated Using Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping...

When plotting data points corresponding to the contrast-agent-induced change in transverse relaxation rate from a dynamic gradient-echo (GRE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study versus a corresponding spin-echo study, a loop or vortex curve rather than a reversible line is formed. The vortex curve area is likely to reflect vessel architecture and oxygenation level. In this study, the vortex effect seen when using only GRE-based estimates, i.e., contrast-agent concentration based on GRE transverse relaxation rate and contrast-agent concentration based on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), was investigated.

Twenty healthy volunteers were examined using 3 T MRI. Magnitude and phase dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DSC-MRI) data were obtained using GRE echo-planar imaging. Vortex curves for grey-matter (GM) regions and for arterial input function (AIF) data were constructed by plotting concentration based on GRE transverse relaxation rate versus concentration based on QSM. Vortex parameters (vortex area and normalised vortex width) were compared with QSM-based whole-brain OEF estimates obtained using 3D GRE.

An obvious vortex effect was observed, and both GM vortex parameters showed a moderate and significant correlation with OEF (r = -0.51, p = 0.02). The vortex parameters for AIF data showed no significant correlation with OEF.

GRE-based GM vortex parameters correlated significantly with whole-brain OEF. In agreement with expectations, the corresponding AIF data, representing high fractions of arterial blood, showed no significant correlation. Novel parameters, based solely on standard GRE protocols, are of relevance to investigate, considering that GRE-based DSC-MRI is very common in brain tumour applications.