Magnetization transfer explains most of the $T_1$ variability in the MRI literature

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Assländer, Jakob
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Assländer, Jakob
author_facet Assländer, Jakob
contents Purpose: To identify the predominant source of the $T_1$ variability described in the literature, which ranges from 0.6-1.1 s for brain white matter at 3 T. Methods: 25 $T_1$-mapping methods from the literature were simulated with a mono-exponential and various magnetization-transfer (MT) models, each followed by mono-exponential fitting. A single set of model parameters was assumed for the simulation of all methods, and these parameters were estimated by fitting the simulation-based to the corresponding literature $T_1$ values of white matter at 3 T. We acquired in vivo data with a quantitative magnetization transfer and three $T_1$-mapping techniques. The former was used to synthesize MR images that correspond to the three $T_1$-mapping methods. A mono-exponential model was fitted to the experimental and corresponding synthesized MR images. Results: Mono-exponential simulations suggest good inter-method reproducibility and fail to explain the highly variable $T_1$ estimates in the literature. In contrast, MT simulations suggest that a mono-exponential fit results in a variable $T_1$ and explain up to 62% of the literature's variability. In our own in vivo experiments, MT explains 70% of the observed variability. Conclusion: The results suggest that a mono-exponential model does not adequately describe longitudinal relaxation in biological tissue. Therefore, $T_1$ in biological tissue should be considered only a semi-quantitative metric that is inherently contingent upon the imaging methodology; and comparisons between different $T_1$-mapping methods and the use of simplistic spin systems - such as doped-water phantoms - for validation should be viewed with caution.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_05318
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Magnetization transfer explains most of the $T_1$ variability in the MRI literature
Assländer, Jakob
Medical Physics
Biological Physics
Purpose: To identify the predominant source of the $T_1$ variability described in the literature, which ranges from 0.6-1.1 s for brain white matter at 3 T. Methods: 25 $T_1$-mapping methods from the literature were simulated with a mono-exponential and various magnetization-transfer (MT) models, each followed by mono-exponential fitting. A single set of model parameters was assumed for the simulation of all methods, and these parameters were estimated by fitting the simulation-based to the corresponding literature $T_1$ values of white matter at 3 T. We acquired in vivo data with a quantitative magnetization transfer and three $T_1$-mapping techniques. The former was used to synthesize MR images that correspond to the three $T_1$-mapping methods. A mono-exponential model was fitted to the experimental and corresponding synthesized MR images. Results: Mono-exponential simulations suggest good inter-method reproducibility and fail to explain the highly variable $T_1$ estimates in the literature. In contrast, MT simulations suggest that a mono-exponential fit results in a variable $T_1$ and explain up to 62% of the literature's variability. In our own in vivo experiments, MT explains 70% of the observed variability. Conclusion: The results suggest that a mono-exponential model does not adequately describe longitudinal relaxation in biological tissue. Therefore, $T_1$ in biological tissue should be considered only a semi-quantitative metric that is inherently contingent upon the imaging methodology; and comparisons between different $T_1$-mapping methods and the use of simplistic spin systems - such as doped-water phantoms - for validation should be viewed with caution.
title Magnetization transfer explains most of the $T_1$ variability in the MRI literature
topic Medical Physics
Biological Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.05318