Analytical model of susceptibility-induced MR signal dephasing: effect of diffusion in a microvascular network

Magn Reson Med. 1999 Mar;41(3):499-509. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1522-2594(199903)41:3<499::aid-mrm12>3.0.co;2-o.

Abstract

A deterministic analytical model that describes the time course of magnetic resonance signal relaxation due to magnetic field inhomogeneity induced by a vascular network is developed. Both static and diffusion dephasing are taken into account. The contribution of the diffusion dephasing is calculated for relatively large vessels (R>10 microm) or short measurement times when the diffusion length is smaller than the vessel radius. The signal is found to possess the following features: a) an initial deviation from the monoexponential relaxation which is more pronounced for the imaginary part of the signal; b) a deviation from monoexponential relaxation at short echo times for the spin-echo (SE) signal measured as a function of the echo time; c) the echo maximum of the SE signal shifted from the nominal echo time to a shorter time; and d) a diffusion effect much stronger for the SE than for the free induction decay experiment. The model presented agrees within its validity domain with a known Monte Carlo simulation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / blood supply
  • Culture Techniques
  • Diffusion
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Microcirculation / anatomy & histology*
  • Models, Cardiovascular*
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*