Characterization and correction of the effects of hepatic iron on T 1ρ relaxation in the liver at 3.0T

作者：Yurui Qian, Jian Hou, Baiyan Jiang, Vincent Wai‐Sun Wong, Jack Lee, Queenie Chan, Yi-Xiang Wang, Chiu‐Wing Winnie Chu, Weitian Chen · 发表于：Magnetic Resonance in Medicine · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1002/mrm.29310 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications、Electron Spin Resonance Studies、Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

Purpose Quantitative T 1ρ imaging is an emerging technique to assess the biochemical properties of tissues. In this paper, we report our observation that liver iron content (LIC) affects T 1ρ quantification of the liver at 3.0T field strength and develop a method to correct the effect of LIC. Theory and Methods On‐resonance R 1ρ (1/T 1ρ ) is mainly affected by the intrinsic R 2 (1/T 2 ), which is influenced by LIC. As on‐resonance R 1ρ is closely related to the Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) R 2 , and because the calibration between CPMG R 2 and LIC has been reported at 1.5T, a correction method was proposed to correct the R 2 contribution to the R 1ρ . The correction coefficient was obtained from the calibration results and related transformed factors. To compensate for the difference between CPMG R 2 and R 1ρ , a scaling factor was determined using the values of CPMG R 2 and R 1ρ , obtained simultaneously from a single breath‐hold from volunteers. The livers of 110 subjects were scanned to validate the correction method. Results LIC was significantly correlated with R 1ρ in the liver. However, when the proposed correction method was applied to R 1ρ , LIC and the iron‐corrected R 1ρ were not significantly correlated. Conclusion LIC can affect T 1ρ in the liver. We developed an iron‐correction method for the quantification of T 1ρ in the liver at 3.0T.