Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Volumetric brain MR imaging typically has long acquisition times. We sought to evaluate an ultrafast MPRAGE sequence based on Wave-CAIPI (Wave-MPRAGE) compared with standard MPRAGE for evaluation of regional brain tissue volumes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed scan-rescan experiments in 10 healthy volunteers to evaluate the intraindividual variability of the brain volumes measured using the standard and Wave-MPRAGE sequences. We then evaluated 43 consecutive patients undergoing brain MR imaging. Patients underwent 3T brain MR imaging, including a standard MPRAGE sequence (acceleration factor [R] = 2, acquisition time [TA] = 5.2 minutes) and an ultrafast Wave-MPRAGE sequence (R = 9, TA = 1.15 minutes for the 32-channel coil; R = 6, TA = 1.75 minutes for the 20-channel coil). Automated segmentation of regional brain volume was performed. Two radiologists evaluated regional brain atrophy using semiquantitative visual rating scales.
RESULTS: The mean absolute symmetrized percent change in the healthy volunteers participating in the scan-rescan experiments was not statistically different in any brain region for both the standard and Wave-MPRAGE sequences. In the patients undergoing evaluation for neurodegenerative disease, the Dice coefficient of similarity between volumetric measurements obtained from standard and Wave-MPRAGE ranged from 0.86 to 0.95. Similarly, for all regions, the absolute symmetrized percent change for brain volume and cortical thickness showed <6% difference between the 2 sequences. In the semiquantitative visual comparison, the differences between the 2 radiologists’ scores were not clinically or statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Brain volumes estimated using ultrafast Wave-MPRAGE show low intraindividual variability and are comparable with those estimated using standard MPRAGE in patients undergoing clinical evaluation for suspected neurodegenerative disease.
ABBREVIATIONS:
- ASPC
- absolute symmetrized percent change
- VBM
- voxel-based morphometry
Footnotes
M.G.F. Longo and J. Conklin are co-first authors.
M.G.F. Longo and J. Conklin are co-first authors.
The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University and its affiliated academic health care centers, or the National Institutes of Health.
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (P41 EB015896, R01 EB020613, UL 1TR002541), a Radiological Society of North America Research Resident Grant (S.Y.H.), and Siemens. It was conducted with support from Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health Award UL 1TR002541) and financial contributions from Harvard University and its affiliated academic health care centers.
Disclosures: Maria Gabriela F. Longo—RELATED: Consulting Fee or Honorarium: Siemens. Stephen F. Cauley—RELATED: Grant: Siemens, Comments: I receive research support from Siemens; UNRELATED: Grants/Grants Pending: Siemens, Comments: I receive research support from Siemens beyond the scope of this work. Kawin Setsompop—RELATED: Grant: National Institutes of Health, Comments: R01EB020613.* Daniel Polak—OTHER RELATIONSHIPS: My PhD salary is paid by Siemens. Daniel Splitthoff—RELATED: Other: The work was supported from side while being an employee of Siemens; UNRELATED: Employment: The work was supported from site while being an employee of Siemens. Wei Liu—UNRELATED: Employment: Siemens Shenzhen Magnetic Resonance Ltd. Otto Rapalino—UNRELATED: Travel/Accommodations/Meeting Expenses Unrelated to Activities Listed: GE Healthcare, Comments: travel expenses for medical conference in San Diego 2019, role: speaker. Susie Y. Huang—RELATED: Grant: Siemens, Comments: research grant.* Maya Polackal—UNRELATED: Employment: Athinoula A. Martinos Center, Comments: research assistant. *Money paid to the institution.
- © 2020 by American Journal of Neuroradiology
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