Temporal correlation-based dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging improves assessment of complex pulmonary circulation in congenital heart disease.
A temporal correlation (TC) mapping method is proposed to help bolus chasing during dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI of complex pulmonary circulation (CPC) in patients with congenital heart disease. DCE-MRI was performed on five healthy male subjects (23-24 years old) and 25 patients (nine males and 16 females, 0.25-44 years old), and TC maps were generated by performing pixel-based computation of cross-correlations to the pulmonary artery with a series of time shifts in all subjects. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations were performed in comparison with original DCE images. TC maps exhibited a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by factors of 4.3 and 1.3 in the lung parenchyma, pulmonary veins, and superior artery/vein; a better intraparenchymal contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) by factors of 1.5-5.4; and a significantly higher conspicuity in all regions except the pulmonary arteries when graded with a five-point score. TC maps evaluated by two experienced clinicians significantly added relevant information (P<0.001), and in some cases affected the final diagnosis. We conclude that TC maps facilitate bolus chasing for DCE-MRI by reducing recirculation effects and interframe fluctuations, and hence complements morphological imaging of CPC in patients with complex congenital heart disease.
Tsai
Shang-Yueh
SY
Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, and Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Wu
Ming-Ting
MT
Lin
Yi-Ru
YR
Hsieh
Kai-Sheng
KS
Lin
Chu-Chuan
CC
Huang
Teng-Yi
TY
Chung
Hsiao-Wen
HW
Pan
Jun-Yen
JY
Huang
Yi-Luan
YL
Pan
Huay-Ben
HB
Yang
Chien-Fang
CF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation
D003287:Contrast Media