Temporal correlation-based dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging improves assessment of complex pulmonary circulation in congenital heart disease
Journal
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Journal Volume
56
Journal Issue
3
Pages
517-526
Date Issued
2006
Author(s)
Abstract
A temporal correlation (TC) mapping method is proposed to help bolus chasing during dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI of complex pulmonary circulation (CPC) in patients with congenital heart disease. DCE-MRI was performed on five healthy male subjects (23-24 years old) and 25 patients (nine males and 16 females, 0.25-44 years old), and TC maps were generated by performing pixel-based computation of cross-correlations to the pulmonary artery with a series of time shifts in all subjects. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations were performed in comparison with original DCE images. TC maps exhibited a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by factors of 4.3 and 1.3 in the lung parenchyma, pulmonary veins, and superior artery/vein; a better intraparenchymal contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) by factors of 1.5-5.4; and a significantly higher conspicuity in all regions except the pulmonary arteries when graded with a five-point score. TC maps evaluated by two experienced clinicians significantly added relevant information (P < 0.001), and in some cases affected the final diagnosis. We conclude that TC maps facilitate bolus chasing for DCE-MRI by reducing recirculation effects and interframe fluctuations, and hence complements morphological imaging of CPC in patients with complex congenital heart disease. ? 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Subjects
Congenital heart disease; Contrast-enhanced MRI; Cross-correlation analysis; Pulmonary circulation; Temporal correlation map
SDGs
Other Subjects
Cardiology; Diagnosis; Diseases; Heart; Magnetic resonance imaging; Congenital heart disease; Contrast to noise ratio; Contrast-enhanced; Cross-correlation analysis; Dynamic contrast enhanced; Dynamic contrast enhanced mris (DCE); Pixel-based computation; Temporal correlations; Signal to noise ratio; adolescent; adult; article; child; clinical article; congenital heart disease; contrast enhancement; contrast to noise ratio; controlled study; diagnostic imaging; dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; evaluation; female; human; human experiment; image analysis; image enhancement; image quality; infant; lung circulation; lung parenchyma; male; molecular imaging; normal human; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; pulmonary artery; pulmonary vein; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; signal noise ratio; superior cava vein; temporal correlation mapping; time
Type
journal article