Jos Oudeman1, Bram F Coolen1, Valentina Mazzoli1,2,3, Mario Maas1, Camiel Verhamme4, Wyger M Brink5, Andrew G Webb5, Gustav J Strijkers2,6, Aart J Nederveen1. 1. Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 2. Biomedical NMR, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 3. Orthopaedic Research Lab, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. 6. Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To study diffusion-prepared neurography optimized for a large field-of-view (FOV) to include the neck and both shoulders. In a large FOV poor homogeneity of the magnetic field (B0 ) often leads to poor image quality and possibly to poor diagnostic accuracy. The aim was therefore to find an optimal (combination of) shimming method(s) for diffusion-prepared neurography in a large FOV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 3D diffusion-prepared sequence with a large FOV was tested with and without the use of a susceptibility-matched pillow combined with image-based (IB) or standard shimming in six healthy volunteers on a 3T system. B0 , B1 , signal to noise ratio (SNR), and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were compared between all protocols. Additionally, nerve visibility, fat suppression, artifacts, and overall image quality were ordinally (5-point scale) assessed by two readers. Furthermore, correlations between B0 and B1 (offset and variation) and SNR, CNR, and image quality were explored. RESULTS: The use of the susceptibility-matched pillow led to a 43% reduction of B0 variation over the brachial plexus compared to the situation without a pillow (P < 0.05). The combination of the pillow with IB-shimming and the optimized diffusion-prepared sequence resulted in good nerve visibility, good fat suppression, no artifacts that would hinder clinical diagnosis, and a good overall quality (median scores ≥4). Reducing B0 variation was associated with SNR, CNR, and the above-mentioned scored features (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of a susceptibility-matched pillow in combination with IB-shimming enables robust and high-quality neurography of the complete brachial plexus.
PURPOSE: To study diffusion-prepared neurography optimized for a large field-of-view (FOV) to include the neck and both shoulders. In a large FOV poor homogeneity of the magnetic field (B0 ) often leads to poor image quality and possibly to poor diagnostic accuracy. The aim was therefore to find an optimal (combination of) shimming method(s) for diffusion-prepared neurography in a large FOV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 3D diffusion-prepared sequence with a large FOV was tested with and without the use of a susceptibility-matched pillow combined with image-based (IB) or standard shimming in six healthy volunteers on a 3T system. B0 , B1 , signal to noise ratio (SNR), and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were compared between all protocols. Additionally, nerve visibility, fat suppression, artifacts, and overall image quality were ordinally (5-point scale) assessed by two readers. Furthermore, correlations between B0 and B1 (offset and variation) and SNR, CNR, and image quality were explored. RESULTS: The use of the susceptibility-matched pillow led to a 43% reduction of B0 variation over the brachial plexus compared to the situation without a pillow (P < 0.05). The combination of the pillow with IB-shimming and the optimized diffusion-prepared sequence resulted in good nerve visibility, good fat suppression, no artifacts that would hinder clinical diagnosis, and a good overall quality (median scores ≥4). Reducing B0 variation was associated with SNR, CNR, and the above-mentioned scored features (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of a susceptibility-matched pillow in combination with IB-shimming enables robust and high-quality neurography of the complete brachial plexus.
Authors: Elisabeth Klupp; Barbara Cervantes; Nico Sollmann; Franziska Treibel; Dominik Weidlich; Thomas Baum; Ernst J Rummeny; Claus Zimmer; Jan S Kirschke; Dimitrios C Karampinos Journal: Clin Neuroradiol Date: 2018-07-23 Impact factor: 3.649
Authors: Lars Bielak; Nicole Wiedenmann; Arnie Berlin; Nils Henrik Nicolay; Deepa Darshini Gunashekar; Leonard Hägele; Thomas Lottner; Anca-Ligia Grosu; Michael Bock Journal: Radiat Oncol Date: 2020-07-29 Impact factor: 3.481
Authors: Lars Bielak; Nicole Wiedenmann; Nils Henrik Nicolay; Thomas Lottner; Johannes Fischer; Hatice Bunea; Anca-Ligia Grosu; Michael Bock Journal: Tomography Date: 2019-09
Authors: Jos Oudeman; Camiel Verhamme; Maurits P Engbersen; Mattan W A Caan; Mario Maas; Martijn Froeling; Aart J Nederveen; Gustav J Strijkers Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-05-09 Impact factor: 3.240