Image-Quality Assessment of 3D Intracranial Vessel Wall MRI Using DANTE or DANTE-CAIPI for Blood Suppression and Imaging Acceleration

• Authors: C Zhu, University of Washington; Bhagya Sannananja, Emory University; CG Colip, Kaiser Permanente Northwest; A Somasundaram, Emory University; M Ibrahim, University of Kansas; T Khrisat, Lincoln Medical Center; M Mossa-Basha, University of Washington
• Journal Title: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY
• Volume: Volume 43, Number 6
• Publisher: AMER SOC NEURORADIOLOGY | 2022-05-26, Pages 837-843
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A7531
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Radiology; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Clinical Neurology; Neuroimaging; Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging; Neurosciences & Neurology; SPIN-ECHO; RESOLUTION; DIFFERENTIATION; ENHANCEMENT

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 3D intracranial vessel wall MRI techniques are time consuming and prone to artifacts, especially flow artifacts. Our aim was to compare the image quality of accelerated and flow-suppressed 3D intracranial vessel wall MR imaging techniques relative to conventional acquisitions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing MR imaging had conventional postcontrast 3D T1-sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts by using different flip angle evolution (SPACE) and either postcontrast delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation (DANTE) flow-suppressed or DANTE-controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPI) flow-suppressed and accelerated T1-SPACE sequences performed. The sequences were evaluated using 4- or 5-point Likert scales for overall image quality, SNR, extent/severity of artifacts, motion, blood suppression, sharpness, and lesion assessment. Quantitative assessment of lumen and wall-to-lumen contrast ratios was performed. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients were included. T1-DANTE-SPACE had significantly better qualitative ratings relative to T1-SPACE for image quality, SNR, artifact impact, arterial and venous suppression, and lesion assessment (P,.001 for each, respectively), with the exception of motion (P ¼.16). T1-DANTE-CAIPI-SPACE had significantly better image quality, lesion assessment, arterial and venous blood suppression, less artifact impact, and less motion compared with T1-SPACE (P,.001 for each, respectively). The SNR was higher with T1-SPACE compared with T1-DANTE-CAIPI-SPACE (P,.001). T1-DANTE-CAIPI-SPACE showed significantly worse lumen (P ¼.005) and wall-to-lumen contrast ratios (P ¼.001) compared with T1-SPACE, without a significant difference between T1-SPACE and T1-DANTE-SPACE. T1-DANTECAIPI-SPACE scan time was 5:11 minutes compared with 8:08 and 8:41 minutes for conventional T1-SPACE and T1-DANTE-SPACE, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated postcontrast T1-DANTE-CAIPI-SPACE had fewer image artifacts, less motion, improved blood suppression, and a shorter scan time, but lower qualitative and quantitative SNR ratings relative to conventional T1-SPACE intracranial vessel wall MR imaging. Postcontrast T1-DANTE-SPACE had superior SNR, blood suppression, higher image quality, and fewer image artifacts, but slightly longer scan times relative to T1-SPACE.