Improved reconstruction of crossing fibers in the mouse optic pathways with orientation distribution function fingerprinting.

PURPOSE: The accuracy of diffusion MRI tractography reconstruction decreases in the white matter regions with crossing fibers. The optic pathways in rodents provide a challenging structure to test new diffusion tractography approaches because of the small crossing volume within the optic chiasm and the unbalanced 9:1 proportion between the contra- and ipsilateral neural projections from the retina to the lateral geniculate nucleus, respectively. METHODS: Common approaches based on Orientation Distribution Function (ODF) peak finding or statistical inference were compared qualitatively and quantitatively to ODF Fingerprinting (ODF-FP) for reconstruction of crossing fibers within the optic chiasm using in vivo diffusion MRI ( n = 18 $$ n=18 $$ healthy C57BL/6 mice). Manganese-Enhanced MRI (MEMRI) was obtained after intravitreal injection of manganese chloride and used as a reference standard for the optic pathway anatomy. RESULTS: ODF-FP outperformed by over 100% all the tested methods in terms of the ratios between the contra- and ipsilateral segments of the reconstructed optic pathways as well as the spatial overlap between tractography and MEMRI. CONCLUSION: In this challenging model system, ODF-Fingerprinting reduced uncertainty of diffusion tractography for complex structural formations of fiber bundles.

Tractography passes the test: Results from the diffusion-simulated connectivity (disco) challenge.

Estimating structural connectivity from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is a challenging task, partly due to the presence of false-positive connections and the misestimation of connection weights. Building on previous efforts, the MICCAI-CDMRI Diffusion-Simulated Connectivity (DiSCo) challenge was carried out to evaluate state-of-the-art connectivity methods using novel large-scale numerical phantoms. The diffusion signal for the phantoms was obtained from Monte Carlo simulations. The results of the challenge suggest that methods selected by the 14 teams participating in the challenge can provide high correlations between estimated and ground-truth connectivity weights, in complex numerical environments. Additionally, the methods used by the participating teams were able to accurately identify the binary connectivity of the numerical dataset. However, specific false positive and false negative connections were consistently estimated across all methods. Although the challenge dataset doesn't capture the complexity of a real brain, it provided unique data with known macrostructure and microstructure ground-truth properties to facilitate the development of connectivity estimation methods.

Performance of orientation distribution function-fingerprinting with a biophysical multicompartment diffusion model.

PURPOSE: Orientation Distribution Function (ODF) peak finding methods typically fail to reconstruct fibers crossing at shallow angles below 40°, leading to errors in tractography. ODF-Fingerprinting (ODF-FP) with the biophysical multicompartment diffusion model allows for breaking this barrier. METHODS: A randomized mechanism to generate a multidimensional ODF-dictionary that covers biologically plausible ranges of intra- and extra-axonal diffusivities and fraction volumes is introduced. This enables ODF-FP to address the high variability of brain tissue. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated on both numerical simulations and a reconstruction of major fascicles from high- and low-resolution in vivo diffusion images. RESULTS: ODF-FP with the suggested modifications correctly identifies fibers crossing at angles as shallow as 10 degrees in the simulated data. In vivo, our approach reaches 56% of true positives in determining fiber directions, resulting in visibly more accurate reconstruction of pyramidal tracts, arcuate fasciculus, and optic radiations than the state-of-the-art techniques. Moreover, the estimated diffusivity values and fraction volumes in corpus callosum conform with the values reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: The modified ODF-FP outperforms commonly used fiber reconstruction methods at shallow angles, which improves deterministic tractography outcomes of major fascicles. In addition, the proposed approach allows for linearization of the microstructure parameters fitting problem.

Stepwise Stochastic Dictionary Adaptation Improves Microstructure Reconstruction with Orientation Distribution Function Fingerprinting.

Fitting of the multicompartment biophysical model of white matter is an ill-posed optimization problem. One approach to make it computationally tractable is through Orientation Distribution Function (ODF) Fingerprinting. However, the accuracy of this method relies solely on ODF dictionary generation mechanisms which either sample the microstructure parameters on a multidimensional grid or draw them randomly with a uniform distribution. In this paper, we propose a stepwise stochastic adaptation mechanism to generate ODF dictionaries tailored specifically to the diffusion-weighted images in hand. The results we obtained on a diffusion phantom and in vivo human brain images show that our reconstructed diffusivities are less noisy and the separation of a free water fraction is more pronounced than for the prior (uniform) distribution of ODF dictionaries.

Free-breathing radial imaging using a pilot-tone radiofrequency transmitter for detection of respiratory motion.

PURPOSE: To describe an approach for detection of respiratory signals using a transmitted radiofrequency (RF) reference signal called Pilot-Tone (PT) and to use the PT signal for creation of motion-resolved images based on 3D stack-of-stars imaging under free-breathing conditions. METHODS: This work explores the use of a reference RF signal generated by a small RF transmitter, placed outside the MR bore. The reference signal is received in parallel to the MR signal during each readout. Because the received PT amplitude is modulated by the subject's breathing pattern, a respiratory signal can be obtained by detecting the strength of the received PT signal over time. The breathing-induced PT signal modulation can then be used for reconstructing motion-resolved images from free-breathing scans. The PT approach was tested in volunteers using a radial stack-of-stars 3D gradient echo (GRE) sequence with golden-angle acquisition. RESULTS: Respiratory signals derived from the proposed PT method were compared to signals from a respiratory cushion sensor and k-space-center-based self-navigation under different breathing conditions. Moreover, the accuracy was assessed using a modified acquisition scheme replacing the golden-angle scheme by a zero-angle acquisition. Incorporating the PT signal into eXtra-Dimensional (XD) motion-resolved reconstruction led to improved image quality and clearer anatomical depiction of the lung and liver compared to k-space-center signal and motion-averaged reconstruction, when binned into 6, 8, and 10 motion states. CONCLUSION: PT is a novel concept for tracking respiratory motion. Its small dimension (8 cm), high sampling rate, and minimal interaction with the imaging scan offers great potential for resolving respiratory motion.

Mapping brain-behavior networks using functional and structural connectome fingerprinting in the HCP dataset.

INTRODUCTION: Connectome analysis of the human brain's structural and functional architecture provides a unique opportunity to understand the organization of the brain's functional architecture. In previous studies, connectome fingerprinting using brain functional connectivity profiles as an individualized trait was able to predict an individual's neurocognitive performance from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) neurocognitive datasets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, we extend connectome fingerprinting from functional connectivity (FC) to structural connectivity (SC), identifying multiple relationships between behavioral traits and brain connectivity. Higher-order neurocognitive tasks were found to have a weaker association with structural connectivity than its functional connectivity counterparts. RESULTS: Neurocognitive tasks with a higher sensory footprint were, however, found to have a stronger association with structural connectivity than their functional connectivity counterparts. Language behavioral measurements had a particularly stronger correlation, especially between performance on the picture language test (Pic Vocab) and both FC (r = .28, p < .003) and SC (r = 0.27, p < .00077). CONCLUSIONS: At the neural level, we found that the pattern of structural brain connectivity related to high-level language performance is consistent with the language white matter regions identified in presurgical mapping. We illustrate how this approach can be used to generalize the connectome fingerprinting framework to structural connectivity and how this can help understand the connections between cognitive behavior and the white matter connectome of the brain.

Respiratory Motion Detection and Correction for MR Using the Pilot Tone: Applications for MR and Simultaneous PET/MR Examinations.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a method for tracking respiratory motion throughout full MR or PET/MR studies that requires only minimal additional hardware and no modifications to the sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patient motion that is caused by respiration affects the quality of the signal of the individual radiofrequency receive coil elements. This effect can be detected as a modulation of a monofrequent signal that is emitted by a small portable transmitter placed inside the bore (Pilot Tone). The frequency is selected such that it is located outside of the frequency band of the actual MR readout experiment but well within the bandwidth of the radiofrequency receiver, that is, the oversampling area. Temporal variations of the detected signal indicate motion. After extraction of the signal from the raw data, principal component analysis was used to identify respiratory motion. The approach and potential applications during MR and PET/MR examinations that rely on a continuous respiratory signal were validated with an anthropomorphic, PET/MR-compatible motion phantom as well as in a volunteer study. RESULTS: Respiratory motion detection and correction were presented for MR and PET data in phantom and volunteer studies. The Pilot Tone successfully recovered the ground-truth respiratory signal provided by the phantom. CONCLUSIONS: The presented method provides reliable respiratory motion tracking during arbitrary imaging sequences throughout a full PET/MR study. All results can directly be transferred to MR-only applications as well.

Noninvasive PET Imaging of CDK4/6 Activation in Breast Cancer.

The cell cycle is a progression of 4 distinct phases (G1, S, G2, and M), with various cycle proteins being essential in regulating this process. We aimed to develop a radiolabeled cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor for breast cancer imaging. Our transfluorinated analog (18F-CDKi) was evaluated and validated as a novel PET imaging agent to quantify CDK4/6 expression in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer. Methods:18F-CDKi was synthesized and assayed against CDK4/6 kinases. 18F-CDKi was prepared with a 2-step automated synthetic strategy that yielded the final product with remarkable purity and molar activity. In vitro and in vivo biologic specificity was assessed in a MCF-7 cell line and in mice bearing MCF-7 breast tumors. Nonradioactive palbociclib was used as a blocking agent to investigate the binding specificity and selectivity of 18F-CDKi. Results:18F-CDKi was obtained with an overall radiochemical uncorrected yield of 15% and radiochemical purity higher than 98%. The total time from the start of synthesis to the final injectable formulated tracer is 70 min. The retention time reported for 18F-CDKi and 19F-CDKi is 27.4 min as demonstrated by coinjection with 19F-CDKi in a high-pressure liquid chromatograph. In vivo blood half-life (weighted, 7.03 min) and octanol/water phase partition coefficient (1.91 ± 0.24) showed a mainly lipophilic behavior. 18F-CDKi is stable in vitro and in vivo (>98% at 4 h after injection) and maintained its potent targeting affinity to CDK4/6. Cellular uptake experiments performed on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line (ER-positive and HER2-negative) demonstrated specific uptake with a maximum intracellular concentration of about 65% as early as 10 min after incubation. The tracer uptake was reduced to less than 5% when cells were coincubated with a molar excess of palbociclib. In vivo imaging and ex vivo biodistribution of ER-positive, HER2-negative MCF-7 breast cancer models showed a specific uptake of approximately 4% injected dose/g of tumor (reduced to ∼0.3% with a 50-fold excess of cold palbociclib). A comprehensive biodistribution analysis also revealed a significantly lower activation of CDK4/6 in nontargeting organs. Conclusion:18F-CDKi represents the first 18F PET CDK4/6 imaging agent and a promising imaging agent for ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Fingerprinting Orientation Distribution Functions in diffusion MRI detects smaller crossing angles.

Diffusion tractography is routinely used to study white matter architecture and brain connectivity in vivo. A key step for successful tractography of neuronal tracts is the correct identification of tract directions in each voxel. Here we propose a fingerprinting-based methodology to identify these fiber directions in Orientation Distribution Functions, dubbed ODF-Fingerprinting (ODF-FP). In ODF-FP, fiber configurations are selected based on the similarity between measured ODFs and elements in a pre-computed library. In noisy ODFs, the library matching algorithm penalizes the more complex fiber configurations. ODF simulations and analysis of bootstrapped partial and whole-brain in vivo datasets show that the ODF-FP approach improves the detection of fiber pairs with small crossing angles while maintaining fiber direction precision, which leads to better tractography results. Rather than focusing on the ODF maxima, the ODF-FP approach uses the whole ODF shape to infer fiber directions to improve the detection of fiber bundles with small crossing angle. The resulting fiber directions aid tractography algorithms in accurately displaying neuronal tracts and calculating brain connectivity.

Using fMRI connectivity to define a treatment-resistant form of post-traumatic stress disorder.

A mechanistic understanding of the pathology of psychiatric disorders has been hampered by extensive heterogeneity in biology, symptoms, and behavior within diagnostic categories that are defined subjectively. We investigated whether leveraging individual differences in information-processing impairments in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could reveal phenotypes within the disorder. We found that a subgroup of patients with PTSD from two independent cohorts displayed both aberrant functional connectivity within the ventral attention network (VAN) as revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neuroimaging and impaired verbal memory on a word list learning task. This combined phenotype was not associated with differences in symptoms or comorbidities, but nonetheless could be used to predict a poor response to psychotherapy, the best-validated treatment for PTSD. Using concurrent focal noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography, we then identified alterations in neural signal flow in the VAN that were evoked by direct stimulation of that network. These alterations were associated with individual differences in functional fMRI connectivity within the VAN. Our findings define specific neurobiological mechanisms in a subgroup of patients with PTSD that could contribute to the poor response to psychotherapy.

Cardiorespiratory motion-tracking via self-refocused rosette navigators.

PURPOSE: To develop a flexible method for tracking respiratory and cardiac motions throughout MR and PET-MR body examinations that requires no additional hardware and minimal sequence modification. METHODS: The incorporation of a contrast-neutral rosette navigator module following the RF excitation allows for robust cardiorespiratory motion tracking with minimal impact on the host sequence. Spatial encoding gradients are applied to the FID signal and the desired motion signals are extracted with a blind source separation technique. This approach is validated with an anthropomorphic, PET-MR-compatible motion phantom as well as in 13 human subjects. RESULTS: Both respiratory and cardiac motions were reliably extracted from the proposed rosette navigator in phantom and patient studies. In the phantom study, the MR-derived motion signals were additionally validated against the ground truth measurement of diaphragm displacement and left ventricle model triggering pulse. CONCLUSION: The proposed method yields accurate respiratory and cardiac motion-state tracking, requiring only a short (1.76 ms) additional navigator module, which is self-refocusing and imposes minimal constraints on sequence design.

Low Rank plus Sparse decomposition of ODFs for improved detection of group-level differences and variable correlations in white matter.

A novel approach is presented for group statistical analysis of diffusion weighted MRI datasets through voxelwise Orientation Distribution Functions (ODF). Recent advances in MRI acquisition make it possible to use high quality diffusion weighted protocols (multi-shell, large number of gradient directions) for routine in vivo study of white matter architecture. The dimensionality of these data sets is however often reduced to simplify statistical analysis. While these approaches may detect large group differences, they do not fully capitalize on all acquired image volumes. Incorporation of all available diffusion information in the analysis however risks biasing the outcome by outliers. Here we propose a statistical analysis method operating on the ODF, either the diffusion ODF or fiber ODF. To avoid outlier bias and reliably detect voxelwise group differences and correlations with demographic or behavioral variables, we apply the Low-Rank plus Sparse (L+S) matrix decomposition on the voxelwise ODFs which separates the sparse individual variability in the sparse matrix S whilst recovering the essential ODF features in the low-rank matrix L. We demonstrate the performance of this ODF L+S approach by replicating the established negative association between global white matter integrity and physical obesity in the Human Connectome dataset. The volume of positive findings p<0.01,227cm3, agrees with and expands on the volume found by TBSS (17 cm3), Connectivity based fixel enhancement (15 cm3) and Connectometry (212 cm3). In the same dataset we further localize the correlations of brain structure with neurocognitive measures such as fluid intelligence and episodic memory. The presented ODF L+S approach will aid in the full utilization of all acquired diffusion weightings leading to the detection of smaller group differences in clinically relevant settings as well as in neuroscience applications.

Accelerated radial diffusion spectrum imaging using a multi-echo stimulated echo diffusion sequence.

PURPOSE: Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) provides us non-invasively and robustly with anatomical details of brain microstructure. To achieve sufficient angular resolution, DSI requires a large number of q-space samples, leading to long acquisition times. This need is mitigated here by combining the beneficial properties of Radial q-space sampling for DSI with a Multi-Echo Stimulated Echo Sequence (MESTIM). METHODS: Full 2D k-spaces for each of several q-space samples, along the same radially outward line in q-space, are acquired in one readout train with one spin and three stimulated echoes. RF flip angles are carefully chosen to distribute spin magnetization over the echoes and the DSI reconstruction is adapted to account for differences in diffusion time among echoes. RESULTS: Individual datasets and bootstrapped reproducibility analysis demonstrate image quality and SNR of the more-than-twofold-accelerated RDSI MESTIM sequence. Orientation distribution functions (ODF) and tractography results benefit from the longer diffusion times of the latter echoes in the echo train. CONCLUSION: A MESTIM sequence can be used to shorten RDSI acquisition times significantly without loss of image or ODF quality. Further acceleration is possible by combination with simultaneous multi-slice techniques. Magn Reson Med 79:306-316, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Improved Detection of Small Pulmonary Nodules Through Simultaneous MR/PET Imaging.

Magnetic resonance (MR)/PET scanners provide an imaging platform that enables simultaneous acquisition of MR and PET data in perfect spatial and temporal registration. This feature allows improving image quality for the MR and PET images obtained during the course of an examination. In this work the authors demonstrate the use of prospective MR-based motion tracking information for removing motion blur in MR/PET images of small pulmonary nodules. The theoretical basis for the algorithms is presented alongside clinical examples of its use.

Improved Detection of Small Pulmonary Nodules Through Simultaneous MR/PET Imaging.

Magnetic resonance (MR)/PET scanners provide an imaging platform that enables simultaneous acquisition of MR and PET data in perfect spatial and temporal registration. This feature allows improving image quality for the MR and PET images obtained during the course of an examination. In this work the authors demonstrate the use of prospective MR-based motion tracking information for removing motion blur in MR/PET images of small pulmonary nodules. The theoretical basis for the algorithms is presented alongside clinical examples of its use.

Voxelwise analysis of simultaneously acquired and spatially correlated 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET and intravoxel incoherent motion metrics in breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (18 F-FDG-PET) independently correlate with malignancy in breast cancer, but the relationship between their structural and metabolic metrics is not completely understood. This study spatially correlates diffusion, perfusion, and glucose avidity in breast cancer with simultaneous PET/MR imaging and compares correlations with clinical prognostics. METHODS: In this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant prospective study, with written informed consent and approval of the institutional review board and using simultaneously acquired FDG-PET and DWI, tissue diffusion (Dt ), and perfusion fraction (fp ) from intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) analysis were registered to FDG-PET within 14 locally advanced breast cancers. Lesions were analyzed using 2D histograms and correlation coefficients between Dt , fp , and standardized uptake value (SUV). Correlations were compared with prognostics from biopsy, metastatic burden from whole-body PET, and treatment history. RESULTS: SUV||Dt correlation coefficient significantly distinguished treated (0.11 ± 0.24) from nontreated (-0.33 ± 0.26) patients (P = 0.005). SUV||fp correlations were on average negative for the whole cohort (-0.17 ± 0.13). CONCLUSION: Simultaneously acquired and registered FDG-PET/DWI allowed quantifiable descriptions of breast cancer microenvironments that may provide a framework for monitoring and predicting response to treatment. Magn Reson Med 78:1147-1156, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Dixon Sequence with Superimposed Model-Based Bone Compartment Provides Highly Accurate PET/MR Attenuation Correction of the Brain.

UNLABELLED: Simultaneous PET/MR of the brain is a promising technology for characterizing patients with suspected cognitive impairment or epilepsy. Unlike CT, however, MR signal intensities do not correlate directly with PET photon attenuation correction (AC), and inaccurate radiotracer SUV estimation can limit future PET/MR clinical applications. We tested a novel AC method that supplements standard Dixon-based tissue segmentation with a superimposed model-based bone compartment. METHODS: We directly compared SUV estimation between MR-based AC and reference CT AC in 16 patients undergoing same-day PET/CT and PET/MR with a single (18)F-FDG dose for suspected neurodegeneration. Three Dixon-based MR AC methods were compared with CT: standard Dixon 4-compartment segmentation alone, Dixon with a superimposed model-based bone compartment, and Dixon with a superimposed bone compartment and linear AC optimized specifically for brain tissue. The brain was segmented using a 3-dimensional T1-weighted volumetric MR sequence, and SUV estimations were compared with CT AC for whole-image, whole-brain, and 91 FreeSurfer-based regions of interest. RESULTS: Modifying the linear AC value specifically for brain and superimposing a model-based bone compartment reduced the whole-brain SUV estimation bias of Dixon-based PET/MR AC by 95% compared with reference CT AC (P < 0.05), resulting in a residual -0.3% whole-brain SUVmean bias. Further, brain regional analysis demonstrated only 3 frontal lobe regions with an SUV estimation bias of 5% or greater (P < 0.05). These biases appeared to correlate with high individual variability in frontal bone thickness and pneumatization. CONCLUSION: Bone compartment and linear AC modifications result in a highly accurate MR AC method in subjects with suspected neurodegeneration. This prototype MR AC solution appears equivalent to other recently proposed solutions and does not require additional MR sequences and scanning time. These data also suggest that exclusively model-based MR AC approaches may be adversely affected by common individual variations in skull anatomy.

Radial q-space sampling for DSI.

PURPOSE: Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) has been shown to be an effective tool for noninvasively depicting the anatomical details of brain microstructure. Existing implementations of DSI sample the diffusion encoding space using a rectangular grid. Here we present a different implementation of DSI whereby a radially symmetric q-space sampling scheme for DSI is used to improve the angular resolution and accuracy of the reconstructed orientation distribution functions. METHODS: Q-space is sampled by acquiring several q-space samples along a number of radial lines. Each of these radial lines in q-space is analytically connected to a value of the orientation distribution functions at the same angular location by the Fourier slice theorem. RESULTS: Computer simulations and in vivo brain results demonstrate that radial diffusion spectrum imaging correctly estimates the orientation distribution functions when moderately high b-values (4000 s/mm2) and number of q-space samples (236) are used. CONCLUSION: The nominal angular resolution of radial diffusion spectrum imaging depends on the number of radial lines used in the sampling scheme, and only weakly on the maximum b-value. In addition, the radial analytical reconstruction reduces truncation artifacts which affect Cartesian reconstructions. Hence, a radial acquisition of q-space can be favorable for DSI. Magn Reson Med 76:769-780, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In vivo brain rosette spectroscopic imaging (RSI) with LASER excitation, constant gradient strength readout, and automated LCModel quantification for all voxels.

PURPOSE: To optimize the Rosette trajectories for high-sensitivity in vivo brain spectroscopic imaging and reduced gradient demands. METHODS: Using LASER localization, a rosette based sampling scheme for in vivo brain spectroscopic imaging data on a 3 Tesla (T) system is described. The two-dimensional (2D) and 3D rosette spectroscopic imaging (RSI) data were acquired using 20 × 20 in-plane resolution (8 × 8 mm(2) ), and 1 (2D) -18 mm (1.1 cc) or 12 (3D) -8 mm partitions (0.5 cc voxels). The performance of the RSI acquisition was compared with a conventional spectroscopic imaging (SI) sequence using LASER localization and 2D or 3D elliptical phase encoding (ePE). Quantification of the entire RSI data set was performed using an LCModel based pipeline. RESULTS: The RSI acquisitions took 32 s for the 2D scan, and as short as 5 min for the 3D 20 × 20 × 12 scan, using a maximum gradient strength Gmax=5.8 mT/m and slew-rate Smax=45 mT/m/ms. The Bland-Altman agreement between RSI and ePE CSI, characterized by the 95% confidence interval for their difference (RSI-ePE), is within 13% of the mean (RSI+ePE)/2. Compared with the 3D ePE at the same nominal resolution, the effective RSI voxel size was three times smaller while the measured signal-to-noise ratio sensitivity, after normalization for differences in effective size, was 43% greater. CONCLUSION: 3D LASER-RSI is a fast, high-sensitivity spectroscopic imaging sequence, which can acquire medium-to-high resolution SI data in clinically acceptable scan times (5-10 min), with reduced stress on the gradient system. Magn Reson Med 76:380-390, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Short-T2 imaging for quantifying concentration of sodium (23 Na) of bi-exponential T2 relaxation.

PURPOSE: This work intends to demonstrate a new method for quantifying concentration of sodium (23 Na) of bi-exponential T2 relaxation in patients on MRI scanners at 3.0 Tesla. THEORY AND METHODS: Two single-quantum (SQ) sodium images acquired at very-short and short echo times (TE = 0.5 and 5.0 ms) are subtracted to produce an image of the short-T2 component of the bi-exponential (or bound) sodium. An integrated calibration on the SQ and short-T2 images quantifies both total and bound sodium concentrations. Numerical models were used to evaluate signal response of the proposed method to the short-T2 components. MRI scans on agar phantoms and brain tumor patients were performed to assess accuracy and performance of the proposed method, in comparison with a conventional method of triple-quantum filtering. RESULTS: A good linear relation (R2 = 0.98) was attained between the short-T2 image intensity and concentration of bound sodium. A reduced total scan time of 22 min was achieved under the SAR restriction for human studies in quantifying both total and bound sodium concentrations. CONCLUSION: The proposed method is feasible for quantifying bound sodium concentration in routine clinical settings at 3.0 Tesla. Magn Reson Med 74:162-174, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.