Measurement of R1 dynamics using sliding window-DESPOT.
OBJECTIVE
To measure longitudinal relaxation rate (R1) changes during contrast agent studies using a driven equilibrium single pulse observation of T1 (DESPOT) method with a sliding window (sw) acquisition.


METHODS
A sw-DESPOT technique was implemented that uses several three-dimensional (3D) image data sets to calculate R1 with a temporal resolution of only a single data set. Different sources of systematic errors were studied in simulations, and the technique was tested in a tumor-bearing mouse using an intravascular contrast agent.


RESULTS
Consistent concentration distributions of the CA were calculated with a temporal resolution of 10 s.


CONCLUSIONS
Sw-DESPOT offers a precise and fast method to monitor the CA dynamics in 3D volumes.
Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
Jessica
J
Schulz
Matthias
M
Korn
Eva C
EC
Woenne
Reiner
R
Umathum
Andreas
A
Briel
Arne
A
Hengerer
Wolfhard
W
Semmler
Michael
M
Bock
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D015233:Models, Statistical; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media