title: A quasi-analytical method for relaxation rate distribution determination of T2-weighted MRI in brain.
abstract: A quasi-analytical method for the determination of relaxation rate distribution functions in T2-weighted MRI in brain is proposed. The method solves analytically the set of non linear polynomial equations on the assumption that the transversal magnetization decay in Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) T2-weighted MR brain images can be decomposed in a finite number of exponential decays, each one corresponding to a particular tissue class. The proposed method was validated by numerical simulations and applied to the calculation of relaxation rate distribution functions of tumoral lesions in brain.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física Molecular y Médica, Escuela de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Central de Venezuela, A.P. 47586, Caracas 1041-A, Venezuela. mmartin@fisica.ciens.ucv.ve
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martín-Landrove
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paluszny
authors.forename: Wuilian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted