Biomedical subjects

J R MacFall

Publications and source records attributed to J R MacFall.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1984

Automated MR image synthesis: feasibility studies.

The authors describe an automated technique of magnetic resonance (MR) image synthesis. Given a specific pulse sequence, MR signals are acquired for several pulse delay and/or repetition times and used to compute images of intrinsic parameters T1, T2, and N(H). Both the computed images and operator-specified pulse delay and repetition times are then used to "synthesize" a new image based on equations descriptive of MR signal behavior and comparable to that acquired by using the operator-specified parameters in an actual MR study. Instrumentation enabling rapid operator-interactive generation of synthesized images is described and initial results presented, allowing for dependence of the signal on T2 in spin echo images. Extension to full T1, T2, and N(H) dependence for arbitrary pulse sequences is described. Major advantages of this technique include retrospective optimization of contrast between arbitrary materials, rapid and systematic image analysis, and reduced scanning time; potential limitations include accuracy, noise, motion artifacts, and multicomponent behavior.

Computers↗

PubMed1984

Magnetic resonance imaging of pituitary lesions using 1.0 to 1.5 T field strength.

Six patients with pituitary abnormalities and three normal volunteers were evaluated by high field superconductive (1.0, 1.4, or 1.5 Tesla) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, low field resistive (0.12 Tesla) MR imaging, and contrast-enhanced, high-resolution CT. Four macroadenomas, one microadenoma, and one empty sella were demonstrated. Their morphology and anatomic relationship to the visual pathway and the internal carotid and anterior cerebral arteries were best demonstrated by high field MR imaging. The low field resistive MR studies were least effective in showing the lesions.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1984

Cerebral magnetic resonance: comparison of high and low field strength imaging.

Low field strength (0.12 Tesla resistive) and high field strength (1.0, 1.4, or 1.5 Tesla superconductive) magnetic resonance imagers were compared for their ability to detect central nervous system lesions. Sixteen adult patients with known lesions and three normal volunteers were studied. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography was used as the standard. The data demonstrate that imaging at high magnetic field strength is superior to low field strength imaging for the detection and delineation of lesions. This finding can be explained by the superior signal-to-noise ratio achievable at the higher magnetic field strengths. High field MR imaging was also found to outperform CT in demonstrating anatomic details and relationships. It is predicted that the use of low saturation (e.g., long TR spin echo technique) will make the gain in contrast-to-noise ratio even more significant.

Adenoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Maximization of contrast-to-noise ratio to distinguish diffusion and microcirculatory flow.

Optimization of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) is described for microcirculation magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques based on flow-compensated/flow-dephased sequences, both with and without even-echo rephasing. The authors present the most advantageous manner of applying flow-dephased gradients, such that dephasing is maximal while diffusion losses are minimal. The theoretical considerations include phase, diffusion, echo time, and bandwidth in the determination of the optimal parameters for microcirculation imaging. Studies in phantoms consisting of stationary and flowing copper sulfate in Sephadex columns demonstrate the validity of the calculations. Optimized in vivo images of a rat stroke model demonstrate the potential of the flow-compensated/flow-dephased technique and the importance of optimizing CNR.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MR imaging of microcirculation in rat brain: correlation with carbon dioxide-induced changes in blood flow.

Considerable interest has been shown in developing a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique with quantitative capability in the evaluation of tissue microcirculation ("perfusion"). In the present study, the flow-dephased/flow-compensated (FD/FC) technique is evaluated for measuring rat cerebral blood flow (CBF) under nearly optimal laboratory conditions. Imaging was performed on a 2.0-T system equipped with shielded gradient coils. Rat CBF was varied by manipulating arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2). In parallel experiments, optimized MR imaging studies (seven rats) were compared with laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) studies (nine rats). LDF values showed a high degree of correlation between CBF and PaCO2, agreeing with results in the literature. MR imaging values, while correlating with PaCO2, showed considerable scatter. The most likely explanation is unavoidable rat motion during the requisite long imaging times. Because of this motion sensitivity, the FD/FC technique cannot provide a quantitative measure of CBF. It can, however, provide a qualitative picture.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An overview of digital spectrometers for MR imaging. Instrumentation Subcommittee of the SMRI Basic Science Council.

Most magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems were originally designed with analog spectrometers, since that was the "state of the art" in the late 1970s, when they were developed. Advances in technology have allowed the design of radio-frequency electronics with a much larger percentage of digital components while the cost of such components has decreased. This has given manufacturers the incentive to develop new spectrometers that incorporate these electronics for cost reduction and potentially better performance. Upgrades and new models of MR units have become available with these so-called "digital spectrometers." Because of the interest in the new systems, the Instrumentation Subcommittee of the Basic Science Council of the Society for Magnetic Resonance Imaging has produced this report to review the basic features of analog and digital spectrometers to help the MR imaging community better understand the similarities and differences of these systems. Some details of actual commercial implementations were left out to focus on the basic features. Regardless, the authors hope they have provided a readable introduction to this important topic.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Magnetization-prepared MR angiography with fat suppression and venous saturation.

Magnetization-prepared magnetic resonance (MR) angiography (MPMRA) is an inflow-based two-dimensional (2D) imaging sequence in which a preparation phase precedes rapid image acquisition. For maximal blood/tissue contrast, an inversion-recovery preparation nulls signal from static tissue. If needed, a second inversion suppresses signal from fat. Fully magnetized blood flows in after the inversion pulse(s), providing high signal intensity. The centric phase-encoding order, which ensures that the initial contrast is reflected in the image set, requires the use of a modified venous saturation technique. The sequence is described and its performance assessed with regard to (a) depiction of in-plane flow, (b) fat suppression, and (c) venous saturation. Phantom and volunteer studies showed good performance in all three areas. MPMRA images, acquired in just 2-4 seconds per image, had a blood/tissue contrast-to-noise ratio nearly twice that of standard 2D time-of-flight MR angiograms, acquired in 5-7 seconds. The technique is promising for restless patients and in anatomic areas plagued by motion degradation.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Single-breath-hold venous or arterial flow-suppressed pulmonary vascular MR imaging with phased-array coils.

A method for acquiring pulmonary vascular magnetic resonance (MR) images with either venous or arterial flow suppression is described. The proposed method only marginally increases the overall imaging time compared with conventional flow-suppression techniques. This enables an acquisition to be completed within a single breath hold with some selectivity as to flow direction. Instead of applying a spatially selective presaturation pulse before each radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulse, the flow presaturation pulse is applied once every 16-20 RF excitation pulses. To avoid image artifacts and to maintain a steady state, each presaturation pulse interval is followed by a normal imaging segment but with data acquisition turned off. Overall imaging time is increased by two TR intervals for each presaturation segment. For a 256 x 128 matrix acquisition, venous flow presaturation increases overall imaging time by approximately 14 TR intervals, while arterial flow suppression increases imaging time by 10 TR intervals.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Asymmetric-echo, short TE, retrospectively gated MR imaging of the heart and pulmonary vessels.

Although retrospectively cardiac-gated (cine) magnetic resonance imaging has shown promise for large-vessel pulmonary vascular imaging, it has not been able to depict the peripheral pulmonary vasculature, where signal is dephased because of susceptibility and/or motion artifacts. The authors developed a cine pulse sequence that uses asymmetric echoes and radio-frequency envelopes to achieve reduced gradient moments and a short TE, thereby reducing signal losses due to disordered flow and susceptibility effects. The effects of TE (2.8-12 msec) and the degree of echo symmetry as measured by the echo symmetry fraction (ESF) (0.6-1.0) are considered in the pulmonary vasculature and the heart. In pulmonary vessels, the signal-to-noise ratio nearly doubled as TE was decreased from 12 to 2.8 msec, but there was only about a 15% difference as the ESF decreased from 1.0 to 0.6, consistent with T2* losses dominating gradient moment dephasing. At a TE of 2.8 msec, the sequence improves visualization of pulmonary vessels and may be helpful for diagnosing pulmonary emboli. In the heart, however, the contrast-to-noise ratio between blood and cardiac tissue decreased by 30% as TE decreased from 12 to 2.8 msec and was not affected by changes in ESF. Flow artifacts in the cardiac blood pool, including those that can aid in diagnosis (eg, signal loss due to "jet" flow), are much less pronounced when a small ESF and short TE are used, making this sequence less attractive for investigation of cardiac flow irregularities. The reduced flow artifacts in this case, however, permit excellent depiction of gross cardiac anatomy.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Optimizing fast spin echo acquisitions for hepatic imaging in normal subjects.

The purpose of this study was to determine which implementations of a T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence of the liver resulted in observer preference in normal subjects. Five volunteers were scanned with a series of fast spin-echo sequences modified to allow for flow compensation, respiratory triggering (RT), ECG triggering, randomized phase encoding (RPE), breath-holding, and echo train length (ETL). Images were compared with conventional 2500/40/80 msec spin-echo images using flow compensation and spatial presaturation by two observers blinded to the specific sequence parameters. All FSE sequences were completed in less than the 12 minutes necessary to perform a conventional spin-echo sequence. The most preferred fast spin-echo sequence employed flow compensation, RT, and used an 8 ETL. Analysis of image preference, signal to noise, and contrast to noise showed that RT was the single most important variable in determining each image response (P < .01, P < .02, P < .01, respectively). There was some evidence that images obtained with an 8 ETL were preferred over those using a 16 ETL (P = .07). No other variables approached statistical significance although one reader preferred images with flow compensation in the frequency direction to those either not flow compensated or flow compensated in the slice direction. Respiratory triggered fast spin-echo images combined with flow compensation in the frequency direction and using ETL = 8 can provide image quality equal to conventional spin-echo sequences with significant time savings.

Electrocardiography↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective comparison of helical CT and MR imaging in clinically suspected acute pulmonary embolism.

The purpose of this study is to compare sensitivity and specificity of helical CT and MR imaging for detecting acute pulmonary embolism(PE). Patients who were suspected clinically of having PE were randomly assigned to undergo either helical contrast-enhanced CT or gradient-echo MR (if one modality was contraindicated, the patient was assigned to the other.) Patients were considered to have PE if they had: 1) high-probability V-Q scan and low clinical probability of PE; 2) pulmonary angiogram positive for PE. Patients were considered not to have PE if they had either:1)normal V-Q scan; 2) low probability V-Q scan and low clinical probability of PE; or 3) pulmonary angiogram negative for PE. The CT and MR images were read randomly and independently by five radiologists with varying levels of CT and MR experience. Twenty eight patients underwent CT and 25 MR. A total of 21 patients underwent pulmonary angiography (6 had PE, 15 did not have PE). Of the other 32 patients, 15 had high probability scan/high clinical probability and 17 had low probability scan/low clinical probability. For the five observers, the average sensitivity of CT was 75% and of MR 46%; the average specificity of CT was 89% and of MR 90%. Experience with vascular MR and enhanced CT influenced diagnostic accuracy. For the two vascular MR experts, average sensitivity and specificity of MR were 71% and 97%, and of CT 73% and 97%. In this pilot study, when CT and MR were interpreted with comparable expertise, they had similar accuracy for detecting pulmonary embolism.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Liver MR imaging: comparison of respiratory triggered fast spin echo with T2-weighted spin-echo and inversion recovery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare a fast spin-echo sequence combined with a respiratory triggering device (R. trig. FSE) with conventional T2-weighted spin-echo (CSE) and inversion recovery (STIR) sequences for the detection of focal hepatic lesions. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 33 consecutive patients with known or suspected hepatic tumors. All patients underwent R. trig. FSE, CSE, and STIR imaging at 1.5 T. Acquisition times were 10.7 min for the CSE sequence and ranged from 12 to 15 min for STIR and from 5 to 7 min for R. trig FSE. For each sequence, liver-spleen contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and liver-lesion CNR were determined quantitatively. Image artifact and sharpness were graded by using a four-point scale on each sequence by two independent readers. Both readers also independently identified hepatic lesions (up to a maximum of eight per patient). For patients with focal lesions, the total number of lesions detected (on each sequence) and the minimum size of detected lesions were also determined by each reader. RESULTS: No significant difference was detected between R. trig. FSE and CSE or STIR in either liver-spleen CNR or liver-lesion CNR. R. trig. FSE images were equivalent to CSE and superior to STIR in sharpness (p < 0.01) and presence of artifact (p < 0.01). R. trig. FSE detected a higher number of lesions (reader 1: n = 92, reader 2: n = 86) than CSE (reader 1: n = 70, reader 2: n = 69) and a significantly higher number than STIR (reader 1: n = 71, reader 2: n = 76). Lesion structure was significantly better defined with R. trig. FSE than with STIR (p < 0.01) and CSE (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with CSE and STIR, R. trig. FSE produces hepatic images of comparable resolution and detects an increased number of focal hepatic lesions in a shorter period of time.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Correction of spatially dependent phase shifts for partial Fourier imaging.

Partial Fourier MR images (PFI) are constructed from data that have fewer phase encoding views than are conventionally acquired using direct Fourier transform spin echo acquisition. The PFI data acquisition is structured to obtain the same spatial resolution as conventional acquisition, trading off signal-to-noise reduction for acquisition time improvement. The "missing" views can be zero filled or, if the data are Hermitian, supplied by symmetry (basic algorithm). The effect of spatially dependent phase shifts (SDPS) on PFI constructed with zero-fill or the basic algorithm is illustrated. The causes and typical magnitudes of such SDPS are discussed. In spin echo data only the low order, slowly varying SDPS, is shown to be significant. Through use of simulated and actual data sets these typical SDPS are shown to produce significant artifacts in PFI, when the amount of missing data is close to one-half. The artifacts are reduced when less data are missing. Good images can be generated with the zero-fill algorithm if less than 25% of the data is missing. Several methods of correcting phase shifts in PFI are developed: the basic Hermitian algorithm with frequency (x) direction correction (BAX), basic Fourier correction algorithm (BFC) and an improved iterative Fourier correction algorithm (IFC). The BFC and IFC can produce good images when as much as 46% of the data is missing. Data with rapidly varying SDPS, for example, gradient refocused data, make the phase correction task more difficult. With less than 25% of the data missing, however, acceptable gradient refocused PFI images can be created.

Fourier Analysis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

3D numerical reconstruction of the hyperthermia induced temperature distribution in human sarcomas using DE-MRI measured tissue perfusion: validation against non-invasive MR temperature measurements.

Essential to the success of optimized thermal treatment during hyperthermia is accurate modelling. Advection of energy due to blood perfusion significantly affects the temperature. Without accurate estimates of the magnitude of the local tissue blood perfusion, accurate estimates of the temperature distribution can not be made. It is shown here that the blood mass flow rate per unit volume of tissue in the Pennes' bio-heat equation can be modelled using a relative perfusion index (RPI) determined with dynamic-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI). Temperature distributions in two patients treated with hyperthermia at Duke University Medical Center for high-grade leg tissue sarcomas are modelled, and the resultant temperatures are compared to measured temperatures using a non-invasive MR thermometry technique. Significant correlations are found between the DE-MRI perfusion images, the MR temperature images, and the numerical simulation of the temperature field. The correlation between DE-MRI measured values and advective heat loss in tissue is used to scale the perfusion distribution, thereby allowing the continuum model to account for the local thermal impact of vasculature in the tumour. Large vessels in tumour and neighbouring healthy tissue need to be taken into account in order to accurately describe the complete temperature distribution.

Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MR imaging of venous and arterial flow by a selective saturation-recovery spin echo (SSRSE) method.

Flow velocity imaging studies have been conducted by means of a selective saturation-recovery spin echo technique, and the dependence of signal amplitude on interpulse interval, echo delay, slice-selection gradient, and flow velocity was evaluated experimentally. The simple theory predicting a steady increase of signal intensity with increasing interpulse interval until this latter equals the transit time could be verified in phantoms and was shown to permit measurement of blood flow velocity in venous structures such as the femoral vein. The flow phantom experiments further showed that the final intensity, attained when inversion time (TI) = transit time, decreases with increasing flow velocity, an effect that cannot be explained by influx of spins between the 90 degree detection pulse and the 180 degree refocusing pulse. This signal reduction is due to slice-selection gradient-induced phase shifts across the pixel, caused by the intralumenal velocity gradient, leading to destructive interference of the spin isochromats. The velocity distribution can be mapped by plotting signal intensity as a function of interpulse interval for pixels in different radial positions. To highlight arterial flow, gating is required with the acquisition delay selected such that the interpulse period TI falls in a time zone of slow flow within the cardiac cycle. By subtracting images recorded with different acquisition delays, flow images showing arterial enhancement only can be obtained, as illustrated for the femoral artery in the thigh.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy of surface fit registration for PET and MR brain images using full and incomplete brain surfaces.

OBJECTIVE: The accuracy of a surface-fitting image registration technique has been investigated for matching [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and [15O]H2O PET brain images with MR images. Use of partial-brain surfaces (a single hemisphere or a limited number of slices) was investigated to simulate cases in which severe brain defects or limited axial field of view would preclude using the entire brain surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three FDG and three H2O scans were performed on five volunteers, in addition to volume MR studies. Fiducial markers were placed on the subjects' scalps to provide references for registration accuracy. The registration procedure was applied to each PET-MR set, using the surfaces defined by locating the brain edge in multiple slices for each set. RESULTS: The surfaces fit well, with only 1% scaling necessary for the best fit. Errors in fiducial marker positions between MRI and transformed PET were < 2 mm in the transverse directions and < 4.5 mm in the axial direction. Fits based on the partial surfaces worked well and gave results very similar to the full-brain fits. CONCLUSION: The surface-fitting technique is accurate for FDG and H2O PET studies, even when part of the brain surface cannot be used.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An analysis of noise propagation in computed T2, pseudodensity, and synthetic spin-echo images.

Methods are reviewed for estimating the transverse relaxation time T2 and the pseudodensity (PD) from spin-echo measurements acquired at an arbitrary set of echo times [TEi]. Least-squares fitting is applied to the logarithmically processed signals for the case in which the weights are proportional to the inverse of the logarithmically transformed signal variances (the minimum variance case). General formulas are derived for the estimated noise levels in the PD and T2 estimates due to the propagation of uncertainties in the original measurements. It is shown that the T2 and PD estimates are anticorrelated. Additionally, an expression is derived for the variance in a synthetic spin-echo signal subsequently formed from the PD and T2 estimates. It is shown that under many circumstances a signal synthesized at some echo time can have a signal-to-noise ratio superior to that in a signal directly acquired at that time. Experimental measurements made on phantoms match the theoretical predictions to a high degree.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Quantification of myocardial perfusion with MRI and exogenous contrast agents.

This review discusses the applications of MRI to quantification of the myocardial perfusion. The first step of the measurement is to obtain a concentration-time curve from a signal intensity-time (SI) curve. Factors which influence the correlation between SI and the concentration are discussed for relaxivity and susceptibility agents. The second stage of measurement is to extract parameters of myocardial perfusion from the concentration-time curve. Two methods are considered, one for an intravascular agent and the other for an extravascular agent. Key points are illustrated with experimental data.

Animals↗