Misregistration artifacts in image-derived arterial input function in non-echo-planar imaging-based dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize misregistration artifact in arterial input function (AIF) pixels in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) using a two-dimensional non-echo-planar imaging (EPI)-based gradient-recalled echo (GRE) sequence.


METHODS
Dynamic gadopentetate-enhanced MRI was acquired in the rat using a semikeyhole acquisition scheme. The AIF was obtained from abdominal aorta pixels. Different sliding-window reconstruction techniques were applied to determine which lines in a series of the semikeyhole acquisition were associated with the misregistration artifacts.


RESULTS
The misregistration along the phase-encoding direction arose when k-space lines were acquired during the rise-time of the aortic gadolinium concentration. The maximum blood concentration of gadolinium estimated from the phase shift calculation agreed with that estimated from dosage.


CONCLUSIONS
AIF misregistration results from a phase shift due to increasing gadolinium concentration in the aorta, and may need to be considered in small animal DCE-MRI studies with a high rate of rise in the AIF in high-field MR applications.
Kuribayashi
Hideto
H
AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK. hideto.kuribayashi@varianinc.com
Worthington
Philip L
PL
Bradley
Daniel P
DP
Checkley
David R
DR
Tessier
Jean J
JJ
Waterton
John C
JC
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016477:Artifacts; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA