Influence of labeling parameters and respiratory motion on velocity‐selective arterial spin labeling for renal perfusion imaging

• Published in: Magnetic resonance in medicine Vol. 84; no. 4; pp. 1919 - 1932
• Main Authors: Bones, Isabell K., Franklin, Suzanne L., Harteveld, Anita A., Osch, Matthias J. P., Hendrikse, Jeroen, Moonen, Chrit, Stralen, Marijn, Bos, Clemens
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2020; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Algorithms; arterial spin labeling; Blood flow; Blood Flow Velocity; Breathing; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Data acquisition; Full Papers—Imaging Methodology; Human motion; Humans; Kidney - diagnostic imaging; kidney function; Kidneys; Labeling; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Motion; motion artifacts; Orientation effects; Parameters; Perfusion; Perfusion Imaging; renal perfusion; Reproducibility of Results; Respiration; Spin labeling; Spin Labels; Transit time; Velocity; velocity‐selective labeling; renal perfusion; kidney function; motion artifacts; velocity-selective labeling; arterial spin labeling
• ISSN: 0740-3194; 1522-2594; 1522-2594
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28252

Purpose Arterial transit time uncertainties and challenges during planning are potential issues for renal perfusion measurement using spatially selective arterial spin labeling techniques. To mitigate these potential issues, a spatially non‐selective technique, such as velocity‐selective arterial spin labeling (VSASL), could be an alternative. This article explores the influence of VSASL sequence parameters and respiratory induced motion on VS‐label generation. Methods VSASL data were acquired in human subjects (n = 15), with both single and dual labeling, during paced‐breathing, while essential sequence parameters were systematically varied; (1) cutoff velocity, (2) labeling gradient orientation and (3) post‐labeling delay (PLD). Pseudo‐continuous ASL was acquired as a spatially selective reference. In an additional free‐breathing single VSASL experiment (n = 9) we investigated respiratory motion influence on VS‐labeling. Absolute renal blood flow (RBF), perfusion weighted signal (PWS), and temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio (tSNR) were determined. Results (1) With decreasing cutoff velocity, tSNR and PWS increased. However, undesired tissue labeling occurred at low cutoff velocities (≤ 5.4 cm/s). (2) Labeling gradient orientation had little effect on tSNR and PWS. (3) For single VSASL high signal appeared in the kidney pedicle at PLD < 800 ms, and tSNR and PWS decreased with increasing PLD. For dual VSASL, maximum tSNR occurred at PLD = 1200 ms. Average cortical RBF measured with dual VSASL (264 ± 34 mL/min/100 g) at a cutoff velocity of 5.4 cm/s, and feet‐head labeling was slightly lower than with pseudo‐continuous ASL (283 ± 55 mL/min/100 g). Conclusion With well‐chosen sequence parameters, tissue labeling induced by respiratory motion can be minimized, allowing to obtain good quality RBF maps using planning‐free labeling with dual VSASL.