Optimizing T2* imaging for adolescent and young adult patients at 7 T.

IF 2.1 3区医学 Q2 PEDIATRICS

Pediatric Radiology Pub Date : 2025-03-17 DOI:10.1007/s00247-025-06213-6

Sergio Valencia, Fedel Machado-Rivas, Arman Avesta, Emil J Barkovich, Samuel C D Cartmell, Simon K Warfield, Camilo Jaimes, Onur Afacan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: T2*-weighted imaging at 7 T offers detailed visualization of brain structures, but image quality and artifacts depend on echo time (TE) adjustments. Optimizing TE is crucial for tissue contrast and artifact minimization.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of TE on tissue contrast and image quality in T2*-weighted sequences at 7 T in adolescents and young adults.

Materials and methods: Ten adolescent and young adult patients underwent 7-T MRI with multi-echo T2*-weighted sequences. Six TEs (8.1 ms to 36 ms) were acquired. Signal contrast ratios (CR) for seven brain regions-caudate nuclei, corpus callosum genu, frontal cortex, cortical veins, globi pallidi, medullary veins, and left optic radiation-were analyzed. Two blinded neuroradiologists assessed image quality and artifact severity using a 4-point Likert scale (IQS). Statistical trends were analyzed using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The study cohort consisted of 4 male and 6 females; the median age of the patients was 16 years (range 15-23 years). CR increased significantly with higher TEs for most regions except the caudate, where CR decreased (P < 0.05). Longer TEs led to greater artifact severity in the brainstem, temporal, occipital, and frontal lobes (P < 0.02), but not in parietal lobes (P > 0.05). Kappa agreement for IQS was 0.76.

Conclusion: TE significantly affects contrast and artifacts in 7-T T2*-weighted imaging. TEs between 20 and 30 ms offer the best balance between tissue contrast and artifact severity, optimizing image quality for clinical and research applications.

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来源期刊

Pediatric Radiology 医学-核医学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

17.40%

发文量

300

审稿时长

3-6 weeks

期刊介绍： Official Journal of the European Society of Pediatric Radiology, the Society for Pediatric Radiology and the Asian and Oceanic Society for Pediatric Radiology Pediatric Radiology informs its readers of new findings and progress in all areas of pediatric imaging and in related fields. This is achieved by a blend of original papers, complemented by reviews that set out the present state of knowledge in a particular area of the specialty or summarize specific topics in which discussion has led to clear conclusions. Advances in technology, methodology, apparatus and auxiliary equipment are presented, and modifications of standard techniques are described. Manuscripts submitted for publication must contain a statement to the effect that all human studies have been reviewed by the appropriate ethics committee and have therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in an appropriate version of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. It should also be stated clearly in the text that all persons gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study. Details that might disclose the identity of the subjects under study should be omitted.