Flow-induced disturbances in balanced steady-state free precession images: means to reduce or exploit them.
In this work computer simulations and phantom measurements are presented that show the effect of flow on in-plane balanced steady-state free precession images. The images were studied for various flow velocities, excitation regions, relaxation times, RF-pulse angles, and off-resonance frequencies. The work shows that flow-induced disturbances are present in the images, but can be reduced by the application of inhomogeneous excitation regions. Also, a velocity quantification method that utilizes the disturbances was developed and proved to quantify flow velocities accurately. The work concluded that the flow-induced disturbances can be reduced to improve image quality, but can also be exploited to quantify the flow velocity.
Lagerstrand
K M
KM
Department of Radiation Physics, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. kerstin.lagerstrand@vgregion.se
Plewes
D B
DB
Vikhoff-Baaz
B
B
Forssell-Aronsson
E
E
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D016477:Artifacts; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*