Real-time trajectory guide tracking for intraoperative MRI-guided neurosurgery.

PURPOSE: In current intraoperative MRI (IMRI) methods, an iterative approach is used to aim trajectory guides at intracerebral targets: image MR-visible features, determine current aim by fitting model to image, manipulate device, repeat. Infrequent updates are produced by such methods, compared to rapid optically tracked stereotaxy used in the operating room. Our goal was to develop a real-time interactive IMRI method for aiming. METHODS: The current trajectory was computed from two points along the guide's central axis, rather than by imaging the entire device. These points were determined by correlating one-dimensional spokes from a radial sequence with the known cross-sectional projection of the guide. The real-time platform RTHawk was utilized to control MR sequences and data acquisition. On-screen updates were viewed by the operator while simultaneously manipulating the guide to align it with the planned trajectory. Accuracy was quantitated in a phantom, and in vivo validation was demonstrated in nonhuman primates undergoing preclinical gene ( n = 5 $$ n=5 $$ ) and cell ( n = 4 $$ n=4 $$ ) delivery surgeries. RESULTS: Updates were produced at 5 Hz In 10 phantom experiments at a depth of 48 mm, the cannula tip was placed with radial error of (min, mean, max) = (0.16, 0.29, 0.68) mm. Successful in vivo delivery of payloads to all 14 targets was demonstrated across nine surgeries with depths of (min, mean, max) = (33.3, 37.9, 42.5) mm. CONCLUSION: A real-time interactive update rate was achieved, reducing operator fatigue without compromising accuracy. Qualitative interpretation of images during aiming was rendered unnecessary by objectively computing device alignment.

Changes in Endogenous Dopamine Induced by Methylphenidate Predict Functional Connectivity in Nonhuman Primates.

Dopamine (DA) levels in the striatum are increased by many therapeutic drugs, such as methylphenidate (MPH), which also alters behavioral and cognitive functions thought to be controlled by the PFC dose-dependently. We linked DA changes and functional connectivity (FC) using simultaneous [18F]fallypride PET and resting-state fMRI in awake male rhesus monkeys after oral administration of various doses of MPH. We found a negative correlation between [18F]fallypride nondisplaceable binding potential (BPND) and MPH dose in the head of the caudate (hCd), demonstrating increased extracellular DA resulting from MPH administration. The decreased BPND was negatively correlated with FC between the hCd and the PFC. Subsequent voxelwise analyses revealed negative correlations with FC between the hCd and the dorsolateral PFC, hippocampus, and precuneus. These results, showing that MPH-induced changes in DA levels in the hCd predict resting-state FC, shed light on a mechanism by which changes in striatal DA could influence function in the PFC.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dopamine transmission is thought to play an essential role in shaping large scale-neural networks that underlie cognitive functions. It is the target of therapeutic drugs, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), which blocks the dopamine transporter, thereby increasing extracellular dopamine levels. Methylphenidate is used extensively to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, even though its effects on cognitive functions and their underlying neural mechanisms are not well understood. To date, little is known about the link between changes in dopamine levels and changes in functional brain organization. Using simultaneous PET/MR imaging, we show that methylphenidate-induced changes in endogenous dopamine levels in the head of the caudate predict changes in resting-state functional connectivity between this structure and the prefrontal cortex, precuneus, and hippocampus.

Feasibility of high spatiotemporal resolution for an abbreviated 3D radial breast MRI protocol.

PURPOSE: To develop a volumetric imaging technique with 0.8-mm isotropic resolution and 10-s/volume rate to detect and analyze breast lesions in a bilateral, dynamic, contrast-enhanced MRI exam. METHODS: A local low-rank temporal reconstruction approach that also uses parallel imaging and spatial compressed sensing was designed to create rapid volumetric frame rates during a contrast-enhanced breast exam (vastly undersampled isotropic projection [VIPR] spatial compressed sensing with temporal local low-rank [STELLR]). The dynamic-enhanced data are subtracted in k-space from static mask data to increase sparsity for the local low-rank approach to maximize temporal resolution. A T1 -weighted 3D radial trajectory (VIPR iterative decomposition with echo asymmetry and least squares estimation [IDEAL]) was modified to meet the data acquisition requirements of the STELLR approach. Additionally, the unsubtracted enhanced data are reconstructed using compressed sensing and IDEAL to provide high-resolution fat/water separation. The feasibility of the approach and the dual reconstruction methodology is demonstrated using a 16-channel breast coil and a 3T MR scanner in 6 patients. RESULTS: The STELLR temporal performance of subtracted data matched the expected temporal perfusion enhancement pattern in small and large vascular structures. Differential enhancement within heterogeneous lesions is demonstrated with corroboration from a basic reconstruction using a strict 10-second temporal footprint. Rapid acquisition, reliable fat suppression, and high spatiotemporal resolution are presented, despite significant data undersampling. CONCLUSION: The STELLR reconstruction approach of 3D radial sampling with mask subtraction provides a high-performance imaging technique for characterizing enhancing structures within the breast. It is capable of maintaining temporal fidelity, while visualizing breast lesions with high detail over a large FOV to include both breasts.

Rapid multicomponent relaxometry in steady state with correction of magnetization transfer effects.

PURPOSE: To study the effects of magnetization transfer (MT) on multicomponent T2 parameters obtained using mcDESPOT in macromolecule-rich tissues and to propose a new method called mcRISE to correct MT-induced biases. METHODS: The two-pool mcDESPOT model was modified by the addition of an exchanging macromolecule proton pool to model the MT effect in cartilage. The mcRISE acquisition scheme was developed to provide sensitivity to all pools. An incremental fitting was applied to estimate MT and relaxometry parameters with minimized coupling. The interaction between MT and relaxometry parameters, efficacy of MT correction, and feasibility of mcRISE in vivo were investigated in simulations and in healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The MT effect caused significant errors in multicomponent T1/T2 values and in fast-relaxing water fraction fF , which is consistent with previous experimental observations. fF increased significantly with macromolecule content if MT was ignored. mcRISE resulted in a multifold reduction of MT biases and yielded decoupled multicomponent T1/T2 relaxometry and quantitative MT parameters. CONCLUSION: mcRISE is an efficient approach for correcting MT biases in multicomponent relaxometry based on steady state sequences. Improved specificity of mcRISE may help to elucidate the sources of the previously described high sensitivity of noncorrected mcDESPOT parameters to disease-related changes in cartilage and the brain.

Utilization of a balanced steady state free precession signal model for improved fat/water decomposition.

PURPOSE: Chemical shift based fat/water decomposition methods such as IDEAL are frequently used in challenging imaging environments with large B0 inhomogeneity. However, they do not account for the signal modulations introduced by a balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) acquisition. Here we demonstrate improved performance when the bSSFP frequency response is properly incorporated into the multipeak spectral fat model used in the decomposition process. THEORY AND METHODS: Balanced SSFP allows for rapid imaging but also introduces a characteristic frequency response featuring periodic nulls and pass bands. Fat spectral components in adjacent pass bands will experience bulk phase offsets and magnitude modulations that change the expected constructive and destructive interference between the fat spectral components. A bSSFP signal model was incorporated into the fat/water decomposition process and used to generate images of a fat phantom, and bilateral breast and knee images in four normal volunteers at 1.5 Tesla. RESULTS: Incorporation of the bSSFP signal model into the decomposition process improved the performance of the fat/water decomposition. CONCLUSION: Incorporation of this model allows rapid bSSFP imaging sequences to use robust fat/water decomposition methods such as IDEAL. While only one set of imaging parameters were presented, the method is compatible with any field strength or repetition time.

Multicomponent T2 analysis of articular cartilage with synovial fluid partial volume correction.

PURPOSE: To investigate the use of a three-pool model to account for the confounding effects of synovial fluid on multicomponent T2 analysis of articular cartilage using Multicomponent Driven Equilibrium Single Shot Observation of T1 and T2 (mcDESPOT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: mcDESPOT was performed on the knee of eight asymptomatic volunteers and eight patients with osteoarthritis at 3.0T with multicomponent T2 maps created using the two-pool model and a three-pool model containing a nonexchanging synovial fluid water pool. The fraction of the fast-relaxing water component (FF ) and the T2 relaxation times for the fast-relaxing (T2F ) and slow-relaxing (T2S ) water components were measured in the superficial and deep layers of patellar cartilage using the two-pool and three-pool models in asymptomatic volunteers and patients with osteoarthritis and were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. RESULTS: Within the superficial layer of patellar cartilage, FF was 22.5% and 25.6% for asymptomatic volunteers and 21.3% and 22.8% for patients with osteoarthritis when using the two-pool and three-pool models, respectively, while T2S was 73.9 msec and 62.0 msec for asymptomatic volunteers and 72.0 msec and 63.1 msec for patients with osteoarthritis when using the two-pool and three-pool models, respectively. For both asymptomatic volunteers and patients with osteoarthritis, the two-pool model provided significantly (P < 0.05) lower FF and higher T2S than the three-pool model, likely due to the effects of synovial fluid partial volume averaging. CONCLUSION: The effects of partial volume averaging between superficial cartilage and synovial fluid may result in biased multicomponent T2 measurements that can be corrected using an mcDESPOT three-pool model containing a nonexchanging synovial fluid water pool.

Articular Cartilage of the Human Knee Joint: In Vivo Multicomponent T2 Analysis at 3.0 T.

PURPOSE: To compare multicomponent T2 parameters of the articular cartilage of the knee joint measured by using multicomponent driven equilibrium single-shot observation of T1 and T2 (mcDESPOT) in asymptomatic volunteers and patients with osteoarthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was performed with institutional review board approval and with written informed consent from all subjects. The mcDESPOT sequence was performed in the knee joint of 13 asymptomatic volunteers and 14 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Single-component T2 (T2(Single)), T2 of the fast-relaxing water component (T2F) and of the slow-relaxing water component (T2S), and the fraction of the fast-relaxing water component (F(F)) of cartilage were measured. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and multivariate linear regression models were used to compare mcDESPOT parameters between volunteers and patients with osteoarthritis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to assess diagnostic performance with mcDESPOT parameters for distinguishing morphologically normal cartilage from morphologically degenerative cartilage identified at magnetic resonance imaging in eight cartilage subsections of the knee joint. RESULTS: Higher cartilage T2(Single) (P < .001), lower cartilage F(F) (P < .001), and similar cartilage T2F (P = .079) and T2S (P = .124) values were seen in patients with osteoarthritis compared with those in asymptomatic volunteers. Differences in T2(Single) and F(F) remained significant (P < .05) after consideration of age differences between groups of subjects. Diagnostic performance was higher with F(F) than with T2(Single) for distinguishing between normal and degenerative cartilage (P < .05), with greater areas under the curve at receiver operating characteristic analysis. CONCLUSION: Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee had significantly higher cartilage T2(Single) and significantly lower cartilage F(F) than did asymptomatic volunteers, and receiver operating characteristic analysis results suggested that F(F) may allow greater diagnostic performance than that with T2(Single) for distinguishing between normal and degenerative cartilage.

Rapid in vivo multicomponent T2 mapping of human knee menisci.

PURPOSE: To compare multicomponent T2 parameters of menisci measured using Multicomponent Driven Equilibrium Single Pulse Observation of T1 and T2 (mcDESPOT) in asymptomatic volunteers and osteoarthritis (OA) patients with intact and torn menisci. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective study was performed with Institutional Review Board approval and with all subjects signing written informed consent. mcDESPOT was performed on the knee joint of 12 asymptomatic volunteers and 14 patients with knee OA. Single-component T2 relaxation time (T2Single ), T2 relaxation time of the fast relaxing water component (T2F ), and the slow relaxing water component (T2S ), and fraction of the fast relaxing water component (FF ) of the medial and lateral menisci were measured. Multivariate linear regression models were used to compare mcDESPOT parameters between normal menisci in asymptomatic volunteers, intact menisci in OA patients, and torn menisci in OA patients with adjustment for differences in age between subjects. RESULTS: The mean mcDESPOT parameters for normal menisci in asymptomatic volunteers, intact menisci in OA patients, and torn menisci in OA patients were respectively 16.1 msec, 18.8 msec, and 22.7 msec for T2Single ; 9.0 msec, 10.0 msec, and 11.1 msec for T2F ; 24.4 msec, 27.7 msec, and 31.4 msec for T2S ; and 34%, 32%, 27% for FF . There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in T2Single , T2F , T2S , and FF between the three groups of menisci. CONCLUSION: The menisci of OA patients had significantly higher T2Single , T2F , and T2S and significantly lower FF than normal menisci in asymptomatic volunteers with greater changes in multicomponent T2 parameters noted in torn than intact menisci in OA patients.

Articular cartilage zonal differentiation via 3D Second-Harmonic Generation imaging microscopy.

PURPOSE: The collagen structure throughout the patella has not been thoroughly investigated by 3D imaging, where the majority of the existing data come from histological cross sections. It is important to have a better understanding of the architecture in normal tissues, where this could then be applied to imaging of diseased states. METHODS: To address this shortcoming, we investigated the combined use of collagen-specific Second-Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging and measurement of bulk optical properties to characterize collagen fiber orientations of the histologically defined zones of bovine articular cartilage. Forward and backward SHG intensities of sections from superficial, middle and deep zones were collected as a function of depth and analyzed by Monte Carlo simulations to extract the SHG creation direction, which is related to the fibrillar assembly. RESULTS: Our results revealed differences in SHG forward-backward response between the three zones, where these are consistent with a previously developed model of SHG emission. Some of the findings are consistent with that from other modalities; however, SHG analysis showed the middle zone had the most organized fibril assembly. While not distinct, we also report bulk optical property values for these different zones within the patella. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results provide quantitative measurements of structural changes at both the fiber and fibril assembly of the different cartilage zones and reveals structural information not possible by other microscope modalities. This can provide quantitative insight to the collagen fiber network in normal cartilage, which may ultimately be developed as a biomarker for osteoarthritis.

The Relation between Catheter Occlusion and Backflow during Intraparenchymal Cerebral Infusions.

Background/Aims: The distribution of infusate into the brain by convection-enhanced delivery can be affected by backflow along the catheter shaft. This work assesses the following: (1) whether tissue coring and occlusion of the catheter lumen occurs when an open end-port catheter is inserted, (2) whether there is a relationship between intracatheter pressure and backflow, and (3) whether catheter occlusion increases backflow. Methods: Freshly excised monkey brains were used to assess tissue coring and its correlation with the behavior of the line pressure. In vivo infusions of gadolinium solution into monkey putamen at 1 µl/min were conducted with and without a stylet during insertion. The effect of flow during insertion was evaluated in vivo in the pig thalamus. MRI and line pressure were continuously monitored during in vivo infusions. Results: Ex vivo testing showed that open end-port insertions always cored tissue (which temporarily plugs the catheter tip) and increased pressure followed by a rapid fall after its expulsion. Catheter insertion with a stylet in place prevented coring but not flow insertion; neither affected backflow. Conclusion: Open end-port catheters occlude during insertion, which can be prevented by temporarily closing the port with a stylet but not by infusing while inserting. Backflow was not completely prevented by any insertion method. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

High-resolution 3D radial bSSFP with IDEAL.

Radial trajectories facilitate high-resolution balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) because the efficient gradients provide more time to extend the trajectory in k-space. A number of radial bSSFP methods that support fat-water separation have been developed; however, most of these methods require an environment with limited B0 inhomogeneity. In this work, high-resolution bSSFP with fat-water separation is achieved in more challenging B0 environments by combining a 3D radial trajectory with the IDEAL chemical species separation method. A method to maintain very high resolution within the timing constraints of bSSFP and IDEAL is described using a dual-pass pulse sequence. The sampling of a unique set of radial lines at each echo time is investigated as a means to circumvent the longer scan time that IDEAL incurs as a multiecho acquisition. The manifestation of undersampling artifacts in this trajectory and their effect on chemical species separation are investigated in comparison to the case in which each echo samples the same set of radial lines. This new bSSFP method achieves 0.63 mm isotropic resolution in a 5-min scan and is demonstrated in difficult in vivo imaging environments, including the breast and a knee with ACL reconstruction hardware at 1.5 T.

High-spatial and high-temporal resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion imaging of the liver with time-resolved three-dimensional radial MRI.

PURPOSE: Detection, characterization, and monitoring the treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis is challenging because of their variable and rapid arterial enhancement. Multiphase dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI is used clinically for HCC assessment; however, the method suffers from limited temporal resolution and difficulty in coordinating imaging and breath-hold timing within a narrow temporal window of interest. In this article, a volumetric, high-spatial resolution, and high-temporal resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced liver imaging method for improved detection and characterization of HCC is demonstrated. METHODS: A time-resolved three-dimensional radial acquisition with iterative sensitivity-encoding reconstruction images the entire abdomen and thorax with high spatial and temporal resolution, using real-time three-dimensional fluoroscopy to match the breath hold to contrast arrival. The sequence was tested on 17 subjects, including eight patients with HCC or other hypervascular focal lesions. RESULTS: This technique was successful in acquiring volumetric imaging of the entire liver with 2.1-mm isotropic spatial and true 4-s temporal resolution. CONCLUSION: This technique may be suitable for detecting, characterizing, and monitoring the treatment of HCC. It also holds significant potential for perfusion modeling, which may provide a noninvasive means to rapidly determine the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in these tumors over the entire liver volume.

Rapid isotropic resolution cartilage assessment using radial alternating repetition time balanced steady-state free-precession imaging.

PURPOSE: To compare a balanced steady-state free-precession sequence with a radial k-space trajectory and alternating repetition time fat suppression (Radial-ATR) with other currently used fat-suppressed 3D sequences for evaluating the articular cartilage of the knee joint at 3.0T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radial-ATR, fast spin-echo (FSE-Cube), gradient recall-echo acquired in the steady-state (GRASS), and spoiled gradient recall-echo (SPGR) sequences with similar voxel volumes and identical scan times were performed at 3.0T on both knee joints of five volunteers. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements were performed for all sequences using a double acquisition method and compared using Mann-Whitney Wilcoxon tests. Radial-ATR sequences with 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm isotropic resolution were also performed on the knee joints of seven volunteers and three patients with osteoarthritis. RESULTS: Average SNR values for cartilage, synovial fluid, and bone marrow were 54.7, 153.3, and 12.9, respectively, for Radial ATR, 30.8, 44.1, and 1.9, respectively, for FSE-Cube, 13.3, 46.9, and 3.3, respectively, for GRASS, and 19.1, 8.1, and 2.1, respectively, for SPGR. Average CNR values between cartilage and synovial fluid and between cartilage and bone marrow were 98.6 and 41.8, respectively, for VIPR-ATR, 13.4 and 28.8, respectively, for FSE-Cube, 33.6 and 10.0, respectively, for GRASS, and 11.0 and 16.9, respectively, for SPGR. Radial-ATR had significantly higher (P < 0.001) cartilage, synovial fluid, and bone marrow SNR and significantly higher (P < 0.01) CNR between cartilage and synovial fluid and between cartilage and bone marrow than FSE-Cube, GRASS, and SPGR. Radial-ATR provided excellent visualization of articular cartilage at high isotropic resolution with no image degradation due to off-resonance banding artifacts. CONCLUSION: Radial-ATR had superior SNR efficiency to other fat-suppressed 3D cartilage imaging sequences and produced high isotropic resolution images of the knee joint which could be used for evaluating articular cartilage at 3.0T.

Quantitative hepatic perfusion modeling using DCE-MRI with sequential breathholds.

PURPOSE: To develop and demonstrate the feasibility of a new formulation for quantitative perfusion modeling in the liver using interrupted DCE-MRI data acquired during multiple sequential breathholds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A new mathematical formulation to estimate quantitative perfusion parameters using interrupted data was developed. Using this method, we investigated whether a second degree-of-freedom in the tissue residue function (TRF) improves quality-of-fit criteria when applied to a dual-input single-compartment perfusion model. We subsequently estimated hepatic perfusion parameters using DCE-MRI data from 12 healthy volunteers and 9 cirrhotic patients with a history of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); and examined the utility of these estimates in differentiating between healthy liver, cirrhotic liver, and HCC. RESULTS: Quality-of-fit criteria in all groups were improved using a Weibull TRF (2 degrees-of-freedom) versus an exponential TRF (1 degree-of-freedom), indicating nearer concordance of source DCE-MRI data with the Weibull model. Using the Weibull TRF, arterial fraction was greater in cirrhotic versus normal liver (39 ± 23% versus 15 ± 14%, P = 0.07). Mean transit time (20.6 ± 4.1 s versus 9.8 ± 3.5 s, P = 0.01) and arterial fraction (39 ± 23% versus 73 ± 14%, P = 0.04) were both significantly different between cirrhotic liver and HCC, while differences in total perfusion approached significance. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates the feasibility of estimating hepatic perfusion parameters using interrupted data acquired during sequential breathholds.

Rapid multicomponent T2 analysis of the articular cartilage of the human knee joint at 3.0T.

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of using multicomponent-driven equilibrium single-shot observation of T1 and T2 (mcDESPOT) for evaluating the human knee joint at 3.0T and to investigate depth-dependent and regional-dependent variations in multicomponent T2 parameters within articular cartilage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: mcDESPOT was performed on the knee joint of 10 asymptomatic volunteers at 3.0T. Single-component T2 relaxation time (T2single ), multicomponent T2 relaxation time for water tightly bound to proteoglycan (T2PG ) and bulk water loosely bound to the macromolecular matrix (T2BW ), and fraction of water tightly bound to proteoglycan (FPG ) were measured in eight cartilage subsections and within the superficial and deep layers of patellar cartilage. Statistical analysis was used to investigate depth-dependent and regional-dependent variations in parameters. RESULTS: There was lower (P = 0.001) T2single and T2PG and higher (P < 0.001) FPG in the deep than superficial layer of patellar cartilage. There was higher (P < 0.001) FPG on the weight-bearing surfaces than nonweight-bearing surfaces. There was higher (P < 0.001) T2single , T2PG , and T2BW on the trochlea and posterior medial and lateral femoral condyles than the patella, central medial and lateral femoral condyles, and medial and lateral tibia plateaus. CONCLUSION: Multicomponent T2 parameters of the articular cartilage of the human knee joint can be measured at 3.0T using mcDESPOT and show depth-dependent and regional-dependent variations.

Noncontrast dynamic 3D intracranial MR angiography using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) and accelerated 3D radial acquisition.

PURPOSE: To develop a novel dynamic 3D noncontrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) technique that combines dynamic pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (dynamic PCASL), accelerated 3D radial sampling (VIPR), and time-of-arrival (TOA) mapping to provide quantitative assessment of arterial flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digital simulations were performed to investigate the effects of acquisition scheme and sequence parameters on image quality and TOA mapping fidelity. Five patients with vascular malformations (arteriovenous malformation [AVM] = 3, dural arteriovenous fistula [DAVF] = 2) were scanned and the images were compared to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for the ability to identify the arterial supply, AVM location, nidus size, and venous drainage. RESULTS: Digital simulations demonstrated reduced image artifacts and improved TOA accuracy using radial acquisition over Cartesian. TOA mapping accuracy is more sensitive to sampling window length than time spacing. Dynamic PCASL MRA depicted seven of eight arterial pedicles, and accurately measured the AVM nidus size when the nidus was compact. The venous drainage in the AVM patients was not consistently visualized. CONCLUSION: Dynamic 3D PCASL-VIPR with TOA mapping is able to acquire both high temporal and spatial resolution inflow dynamics that could improve diagnosis of high-flow intracranial vascular diseases.

Evictionism and libertarianism.

There is a new sheriff in town on the abortion question. It is called evictionism. It diverges, philosophically, from both the pro-life and the pro-choice positions. It assumes that the birth of a human being starts with the fertilized egg but claims that the unwanted baby is a trespasser that may be evicted in the gentlest manner possible.

Adaptive retrospective correction of motion artifacts in cranial MRI with multicoil three-dimensional radial acquisitions.

Despite reduction in imaging times through improved hardware and rapid acquisition schemes, motion artifacts can compromise image quality in magnetic resonance imaging, especially in three-dimensional imaging with its prolonged scan durations. Direct extension of most state-of-the-art two-dimensional rigid body motion compensation techniques to the three-dimensional case is often challenging or impractical due to a significant increase in sampling requirements. This article introduces a novel motion correction technique that is capable of restoring image quality in motion corrupted two-dimensional and three-dimensional radial acquisitions without a priori assumptions about when motion occurs. The navigating properties of radial acquisitions-corroborated by multiple receiver coils-are exploited to detect actual instances of motion. Pseudorandom projection ordering provides flexibility of reconstructing navigator images from the obtained motion-free variable-width subsets for subsequent estimation of rigid body motion parameters by coregistration. The proposed approach does not require any additional navigators or external motion estimation schemes. The capabilities and limitations of the method are described and demonstrated through simulations and representative volunteer cranial acquisitions.

Noncontrast-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) intracranial MR angiography using pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling and accelerated 3D radial acquisition.

Pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) can be used to generate noncontrast magnetic resonance angiograms of the cerebrovascular structures. Previously described PCASL-based angiography techniques were limited to two-dimensional projection images or relatively low-resolution three-dimensional (3D) imaging due to long acquisition time. This work proposes a new PCASL-based 3D magnetic resonance angiography method that uses an accelerated 3D radial acquisition technique (VIPR, spoiled gradient echo) as the readout. Benefiting from the sparsity provided by PCASL and noise-like artifacts of VIPR, this new method is able to obtain submillimeter 3D isotropic resolution and whole head coverage with a 8-min scan. Intracranial angiography feasibility studies in healthy (N = 5) and diseased (N = 5) subjects show reduced saturation artifacts in PCASL-VIPR compared with a standard time-of-flight protocol. These initial results show great promise for PCASL-VIPR for static, dynamic, and vessel selective 3D intracranial angiography.

Rapid measurement and correction of phase errors from B0 eddy currents: impact on image quality for non-Cartesian imaging.

Non-Cartesian imaging sequences and navigational methods can be more sensitive to scanner imperfections that have little impact on conventional clinical sequences, an issue which has repeatedly complicated the commercialization of these techniques by frustrating transitions to multicenter evaluations. One such imperfection is phase errors caused by resonant frequency shifts from eddy currents induced in the cryostat by time-varying gradients, a phenomenon known as B(0) eddy currents. These phase errors can have a substantial impact on sequences that use ramp sampling, bipolar gradients, and readouts at varying azimuthal angles. We present a method for measuring and correcting phase errors from B(0) eddy currents and examine the results on two different scanner models. This technique yields significant improvements in image quality for high-resolution joint imaging on certain scanners. This result suggests that correcting short-time B(0) eddy currents that do not affect conventional clinical sequences may simplify the adoption of non-Cartesian methods.