Harteveld AA, Hutter J, Franklin SL, Jackson LH, Rutherford M, Hajnal J, Van Osch MJP, Bos C, De Vita E (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Book Volume: 84
Pages Range: 1828-1843
Journal Issue: 4
DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28240
Purpose: Placental function is key for successful human pregnancies. Perfusion may be a sensitive marker for the in vivo assessment of placental function. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI enables noninvasive measurement of tissue perfusion and it was recently suggested that ASL with velocity-selective (VS) labeling could be advantageous in the placenta. We systematically evaluated essential VS-ASL sequence parameters to determine optimal settings for efficient placental perfusion measurements. Methods: Eleven pregnant women were scanned at 3T using VS-ASL with 2D multislice echo planar imaging (EPI)-readout. One reference VS-ASL scan was acquired in all subjects; within subgroups the following parameters were systematically varied: cutoff velocity, velocity encoding direction, and inflow time. Visual evaluation and region of interest analyses were performed to compare perfusion signal differences between acquisitions. Results: In all subjects, a perfusion pattern with clear hyperintense focal regions was observed. Perfusion signal decreased with inflow time and cutoff velocity. Subject-specific dependence on velocity encoding direction was observed. High temporal signal-to-noise ratios with high contrast on the perfusion images between the hyperintense regions and placental tissue were seen at ~1.6 cm/s cutoff velocity and ~1000 ms inflow time. Evaluation of measurements at multiple inflow times revealed differences in blood flow dynamics between placental regions. Conclusion: Placental perfusion measurements are feasible at 3T using VS-ASL with 2D multislice EPI-readout. A clear dependence of perfusion signal on VS labeling parameters and inflow time was demonstrated. Whereas multiple parameter combinations may advance the interpretation of placental circulation dynamics, this study provides a basis to select an effective set of parameters for the observation of placenta perfusion natural history and its potential pathological changes.
APA:
Harteveld, A.A., Hutter, J., Franklin, S.L., Jackson, L.H., Rutherford, M., Hajnal, J.,... De Vita, E. (2020). Systematic evaluation of velocity-selective arterial spin labeling settings for placental perfusion measurement. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 84(4), 1828-1843. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.28240
MLA:
Harteveld, Anita A., et al. "Systematic evaluation of velocity-selective arterial spin labeling settings for placental perfusion measurement." Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 84.4 (2020): 1828-1843.
BibTeX: Download