In vivo cerebromicrovasculatural visualization using 3D DeltaR2-based microscopy of magnetic resonance angiography (3DDeltaR2-mMRA).
This study proposed a novel methodology for depicting cerebral small vessels including veins, arterioles, and venules, called 3DDeltaR(2)-mMRA (three-dimensional, steady-state DeltaR(2)-based, and flow-independent microscopic magnetic resonance angiography). The DeltaR(2) map calculated by a fast spin-echo imaging technique before and after the injection of an iron-oxide contrast agent was used to delineate the relative cerebral blood volume, primarily to microvasculature. The proposed 3DDeltaR(2)-mMRA method, which employs 3D reconstruction techniques, can simultaneously provide high-resolution 3D information on the cerebral anatomy, in vivo microvascular architecture, and hemodynamic response, which can be used to evaluate pathological microvascular changes over time in cerebromicrovascular disease. Since spin-echo-based DeltaR(2) imaging was applied, the inflow effects, susceptibility artifacts, and the overestimation of vessel size in brain were reduced. A well-defined three-vessel occlusion model in the rat was performed to evaluate the capability of the proposed method in evaluating alterations to the microvasculature.
Lin
Chien-Yuan
CY
Interdisciplinary MRI/MRS Lab, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Lin
Ming-Huang
MH
Cheung
Wai-Mui
WM
Lin
Teng-Nan
TN
Chen
Jyh-Horng
JH
Chang
Chen
C
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D051381:Rats; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology