Influence of amplitude-related perfusion parameters in the parotid glands by non-fat-saturated dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging a

• Published in: Medical physics (Lancaster) Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 1873 - 1881
• Main Authors: Chiu, Su-Chin, Cheng, Cheng-Chieh, Chang, Hing-Chiu, Chung, Hsiao-Wen, Chiu, Hui-Chu, Liu, Yi-Jui, Hsu, Hsian-He, Juan, Chun-Jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association of Physicists in Medicine 01.04.2016
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Adult; Aged; Agent based models; Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers; biomedical MRI; Clinical applications; CONCENTRATION RATIO; CONTRAST MEDIA; Contrast sensitivity; CORRECTIONS; Data analysis; dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; fat content; FATS; Female; gadolinium; General statistical methods; GLANDS; Humans; Image analysis; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; INHIBITION; Involving electronic [emr] or nuclear [nmr] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical imaging; Middle Aged; NMR IMAGING; PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS; parotid gland; Parotid Gland - blood supply; Parotid Gland - diagnostic imaging; PATIENTS; perfusion; PHANTOMS; Phantoms, Imaging; pharmacokinetic model; Protons; RADIATION DOSES; RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY; Regional Blood Flow; REGRESSION ANALYSIS; Sequence analysis; SIGNALS; Statistical analysis; Tissues; Young Adult; fat content; pharmacokinetic model; dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; perfusion; parotid gland
• ISSN: 0094-2405; 2473-4209; 2473-4209
• DOI: 10.1118/1.4943798

Purpose: To verify whether quantification of parotid perfusion is affected by fat signals on non-fat-saturated (NFS) dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and whether the influence of fat is reduced with fat saturation (FS). Methods: This study consisted of three parts. First, a retrospective study analyzed DCE-MRI data previously acquired on different patients using NFS (n = 18) or FS (n = 18) scans. Second, a phantom study simulated the signal enhancements in the presence of gadolinium contrast agent at six concentrations and three fat contents. Finally, a prospective study recruited nine healthy volunteers to investigate the influence of fat suppression on perfusion quantification on the same subjects. Parotid perfusion parameters were derived from NFS and FS DCE-MRI data using both pharmacokinetic model analysis and semiquantitative parametric analysis. T tests and linear regression analysis were used for statistical analysis with correction for multiple comparisons. Results: NFS scans showed lower amplitude-related parameters, including parameter A, peak enhancement (PE), and slope than FS scans in the patients (all with P < 0.0167). The relative signal enhancement in the phantoms was proportional to the dose of contrast agent and was lower in NFS scans than in FS scans. The volunteer study showed lower parameter A (6.75 ± 2.38 a.u.), PE (42.12% ± 14.87%), and slope (1.43% ± 0.54% s−1) in NFS scans as compared to 17.63 ± 8.56 a.u., 104.22% ± 25.15%, and 9.68% ± 1.67% s−1, respectively, in FS scans (all with P < 0.005). These amplitude-related parameters were negatively associated with the fat content in NFS scans only (all with P < 0.05). Conclusions: On NFS DCE-MRI, quantification of parotid perfusion is adversely affected by the presence of fat signals for all amplitude-related parameters. The influence could be reduced on FS scans.