title: Temporal correlation-based dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging improves assessment of complex pulmonary circulation in congenital heart disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, and Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Shang-Yueh
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Ming-Ting
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yi-Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kai-Sheng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Chu-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Teng-Yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hsiao-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jun-Yen
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yi-Luan
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Huay-Ben
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Chien-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media