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Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) is a useful tool to characterise and stage a disease. Here we investigate the application of DCE MRI to the liver, an organ subject to large excursions during normal breathing. For DCE MRI it is important to have an estimate of the longitudinal relaxation time parameter T1. We show that by using a T1 mapping approach, which takes into account inaccuracies in transmitted flip angles, we obtain a smoother T1 map, resulting in a more consistent parameter estimation for the subsequent analysis. The dynamic imaging protocol described enables the acquisition of high resolution unblurred images by simulating the normal breathing cycle. The contrast enhanced data is aligned, first rigidly, then non-rigidly, and input to a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. We observe that rigid registration markedly improves the parameter estimation, but is insufficient in clinically important heterogeneous areas.

Original publication

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.2008.4649282

Type

Journal article

Journal

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc

Publication Date

2008

Volume

2008

Pages

831 - 834

Keywords

Algorithms, Contrast Media, Humans, Image Enhancement, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, Liver, Liver Neoplasms, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Reproducibility of Results, Sensitivity and Specificity