南方医科大学学报 ›› 2021, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2): 216-222.doi: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2021.02.08

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ApoE-/-小鼠三维DANTE-FLASH颈动脉血管壁成像:基于7.0 T磁共振技术

杨渊博, 李忠豪, 刘 蔷, 谢国喜, 冯衍秋   

  • 发布日期:2021-02-05

Carotid artery wall imaging using 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging with three-dimensional DANTE-prepared FLASH in ApoE-/- mice

  • Published:2021-02-05

摘要:

目的 探讨7.0 T磁共振上三维血管壁成像技术(DANTE-FLASH)进行ApoE-/-小鼠颈动脉粥样硬化斑块成像的可行性。方法 通过数值仿真优化成像参数,实现血管腔-壁对比度最大化。6只ApoE-/-小鼠和3只野生型小鼠在7.0 T MRI均行ANTE-FLASH 和流入流出饱和带的多层2D RARE(2D-IOSB-RARE)两种扫描。在管壁信噪比(SNRwall)、管腔信噪比(SNRlumen)、壁-腔对比噪声比(CNR)、管腔面积(LA)、和管壁面积(WA)方面分别对2D-IOSB-RARE和DANTE-FLASH序列进行比较。对于LA与WA,使用线性回归分析评估MR图像与病理图像测量结果的相关性。结果 根据数值仿真结果,小鼠实验的DANTE模块采用了15°翻转角与150脉冲链。相较于2D-IOSB-RARE,DANTE-FLASH的CNR轻微降低(P<0.001),但层分辨率显著提高。组内相关系数(LA: ICC=0.94, P<0.001; WA: ICC=0.93, P<0.001)和 Bland-Altman 图显示出 DANTE-FLASH 和 2D-IOSB-RARE在评估LA和WA测量结果方面具有良好的一致性。MR图像与病理图像在定量测量LA(P<0.0001)和WA(P<0.0001)中呈现较强相关性。结论 在7.0 T磁共振上,三维DANTE-FLASH黑血MR序列,可实现各向同性高空间分辨率成像,有利于ApoE-/-小鼠颈动脉粥样硬化病变的灵活显示和定量评估。

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Abstract:

Objective To explore the feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) vessel wall imaging of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice using 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with delays alternating with nutations for tailored excitation (DANTE)-prepared fast low-angle shot (DANTE-FLASH) technique. Methods Numerical simulations were performed for optimizing imaging parameters to maximize the wall-lumen contrast. Six ApoE-/- and three wild-type mice were scanned using a 7.0T MRI scanner with DANTE-FLASH and multi-slice 2D RARE coupled with inflow outflow saturation bands (2D-IOSB-RARE). The wall signal- to-noise ratio (SNRwall), lumen SNR (SNRlumen), wall-lumen contrast- to-noise ratio (CNR), lumen area (LA), and wall area (WA) were compared between DANTE- FLASH and 2D-IOSB-RARE sequences. Linear regression analysis was performed to assess the correlation between the MRI measurements and histopathological measurements of LA and WA. Results Based on the simulation results, a flip angle of 15° and a train length of 150 were implemented in the live imaging study. Compared with 2D-IOSB-RARE, DANTE-FLASH provided a slightly reduced CNR (P<0.001) but much improved slice resolution. The LA and WA measurements from the DANTE- FLASH and 2D- IOSB- RARE showed excellent agreement based on ICC analysis (LA: ICC=0.94, P<0.001; WA: ICC=0.93, P<0.001) and Bland-Altman plots. Strong correlations were observed between the MRI and histopathological measurements for both LA (P<0.0001) and WA (P<0.0001). Conclusion As a 3D black-blood MR sequence, DANTE-FLASH provides isotropic high spatial resolution to allow reliable visualization and quantitative evaluation of the arteriosclerotic lesions within the carotid artery of ApoE-/- mice using a 7.0T MRI scanner.

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