A validation of a flow quantification by MR phase mapping software.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated a Siemens software of flow quantification (FQ) by MR phase mapping, in the framework of a common practical use.


METHODS
Experiments with a laminar flow phantom and in vivo pulsatile flow were performed. In particular, FQ in ascending aorta was investigated in healthy volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
Flow phantom experiments reveal that the FQ slightly underestimates (8% on the average) actual velocities (mean velocities over a vessel area), and also that velocity uncertainties are related to the encoding velocity value, whatever the measured velocity. Furthermore, using well characterized working criteria, we found low intraobserver variability and negligible interobserver variability in ascending aorta FQs. The role played by the choice of reference area in FQ accuracy is emphasized. When recording several cardiac cycles during the same acquisition, it is shown that the FQ software may provide erroneous results. Several comments for FQ software use in the ascending aorta are added.
Laffon
E
E
Service de Médecine Nucléaire, Groupe Hospitalier Sud, Hôpital du Haut-lévêque, Pessac, France.
Valli
N
N
Latrabe
V
V
Franconi
J M
JM
Barat
J L
JL
Laurent
F
F
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D015588:Observer Variation; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D012984:Software