Three-dimensional arterial spin labeling imaging with a DANTE preparation pulse

Magn Reson Imaging. 2018 Jun:49:131-137. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2018.02.001. Epub 2018 Feb 13.

Abstract

On arterial spin-labeled (ASL) images, areas of bright intravascular signal will appear when the post labeling delay time is shorter than arterial transit time. Vascular suppression (VS) schemes reduce artefactual bright signal by dephasing intravascular labeled spins. However, existing VS methods, such as Motion-Sensitized Driven-Equilibrium (MSDE), decrease the uniformity of the signal intensity distribution and extend the echo time. The purpose of this study is to compare VS using a Delays Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation (DANTE) preparation pulse, with MSDE for ASL imaging on a flow phantom and volunteer data. In the phantom study, the signal decay pattern of moving water was similar for both methods. In the volunteer study, the bright intravascular signal artifact was decreased by both methods. However right-left differences in signal intensity were smaller using DANTE-prepared ASL. The proposed DANTE-prepared ASL sequence has a vessel suppression effect while maintaining a uniform signal intensity distribution. This study indicates that DANTE is a potentially useful method for vessel suppression in ASL imaging.

Keywords: ASL; Arterial spin labeling; Arterial transit time; Artifacts; Delays Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation; Magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Reference Values
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Spin Labels

Substances

  • Spin Labels