Improved reliability of perfusion estimation in dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI by using the arterial input function from dynamic contrast enhanced MRI

Improved reliability of perfusion estimation in dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI by using the arterial input function from dynamic contrast enhanced MRI

Tseng, C. (TU Delft ImPhys/Vos group; TU Delft ImPhys/Computational Imaging; Universiteit Leiden; Medical Delta)
Jaspers, Jaap (Universiteit Leiden; Erasmus MC)
Romero, Alejandra Mendez (Universiteit Leiden; Erasmus MC)
Wielopolski, Piotr (Erasmus MC)
Smits, M. (Erasmus MC; Medical Delta)
van Osch, Matthias J.P. (Universiteit Leiden; Leiden University Medical Center; Medical Delta)
Vos, F.M. (TU Delft ImPhys/Computational Imaging; TU Delft ImPhys/Vos group; Universiteit Leiden; Erasmus MC; Medical Delta)

2023

The arterial input function (AIF) plays a crucial role in estimating quantitative perfusion properties from dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI. An important issue, however, is that measuring the AIF in absolute contrast-agent concentrations is challenging, due to uncertainty in relation to the measured (Formula presented.) -weighted signal, signal depletion at high concentration, and partial-volume effects. A potential solution could be to derive the AIF from separately acquired dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI data. We aim to compare the AIF determined from DCE MRI with the AIF from DSC MRI, and estimated perfusion coefficients derived from DSC data using a DCE-driven AIF with perfusion coefficients determined using a DSC-based AIF. AIFs were manually selected in branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in both DCE and DSC data in each patient. In addition, a semi-automatic AIF-selection algorithm was applied to the DSC data. The amplitude and full width at half-maximum of the AIFs were compared statistically using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, applying a 0.05 significance level. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was derived with different AIF approaches and compared further. The results showed that the AIFs extracted from DSC scans yielded highly variable peaks across arteries within the same patient. The semi-automatic DSC–AIF had significantly narrower width compared with the manual AIFs, and a significantly larger peak than the manual DSC–AIF. Additionally, the DCE-based AIF provided a more stable measurement of relative CBF and absolute CBF values estimated with DCE–AIFs that were compatible with previously reported values. In conclusion, DCE-based AIFs were reproduced significantly better across vessels, showed more realistic profiles, and delivered more stable and reasonable CBF measurements. The DCE–AIF can, therefore, be considered as an alternative AIF source for quantitative perfusion estimations in DSC MRI.

arterial input function
cerebral blood flow
cerebral blood volume
dynamic contrast enhanced MRI
dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:149af660-369a-46cc-81d5-e96e45be10a7

https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.5038

0952-3480

NMR in Biomedicine, 37 (1)

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2023 C. Tseng, Jaap Jaspers, Alejandra Mendez Romero, Piotr Wielopolski, M. Smits, Matthias J.P. van Osch, F.M. Vos