The Compressed Sensing MP2RAGE as a Surrogate to the MPRAGE for Neuroimaging at 3 T

Objectives The magnetization-prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient echo (MP2RAGE) sequence provides quantitative T1 maps in addition to high-contrast morphological images. Advanced acceleration techniques such as compressed sensing (CS) allow its acquisition time to be compatible with clinical applications. To consider its routine use in future neuroimaging protocols, the repeatability of the segmented brain structures was evaluated and compared with the standard morphological sequence (magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo [MPRAGE]). The repeatability of the T1 measurements was also assessed. Materials and Methods Thirteen healthy volunteers were scanned either 3 or 4 times at several days of interval, on a 3 T clinical scanner, with the 2 sequences (CS-MP2RAGE and MPRAGE), set with the same spatial resolution (0.8-mm isotropic) and scan duration (6 minutes 21 seconds). The reconstruction time of the CS-MP2RAGE outputs (including the 2 echo images, the MP2RAGE image, and the T1 map) was 3 minutes 33 seconds, using an open-source in-house algorithm implemented in the Gadgetron framework. Both precision and variability of volume measurements obtained from CAT12 and VolBrain were assessed. The T1 accuracy and repeatability were measured on phantoms and on humans and were compared with literature. Volumes obtained from the CS-MP2RAGE and the MPRAGE images were compared using Student t tests (P
Source: Investigative Radiology - Category: Radiology Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research