Title:3D Synthetic Brain MRI with Compressed Sensing: Can It be a Promising way
Forward for Daily Neuroimaging?
Volume: 20
Author(s): Young Jin Heo, Hye Jin Baek*, Eun Cho and Kwangho Lee
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, 11
Samjeongja-ro, Seongsan-gu, Changwon 51472, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, 816-15 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52727,
Republic of Korea.
Keywords:
Synthetic MRI, 3D-QALAS, Compressed sensing, Image quality, Magnetic resonance imaging, Brain.
Abstract:
Background:
Synthetic MRI can provide multiple contrast-weighted brain images with high resolution from a single scan via a 3D sequence using an interleaved
Look-Locker acquisition sequence with a T2 preparation pulse (3D-QALAS).
Objective:
This study aimed to assess the diagnostic image quality of 3D synthetic MRI using compressed sensing (CS) in clinical practice.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the imaging data of 47 patients who underwent brain MRI, including 3D synthetic MRI using CS in a single session,
between December 2020 and February 2021. Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated the overall image quality, anatomic demarcation, and
artifacts for synthetic 3D T1-weighted, T2-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), phase-sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR), and
double inversion recovery images, using a 5-point Likert scale. The interobserver agreement between the two readers was assessed using percent
agreement and weighted κ statistics.
Results:
The overall image quality of 3D synthetic T1WI and PSIR was good to excellent, with easy or excellent anatomic demarcation and mild or no
visible artifact. However, other 3D synthetic MRI-derived images showed insufficient image quality and anatomic demarcation with marked CSF
pulsation artifacts. In particular, 3D synthetic FLAIR showed high-signal artifacts on the brain surface.
Conclusion:
3D synthetic MRI, at its current status, cannot completely replace conventional brain MRI in daily clinical practice. However, 3D synthetic MRI
can achieve scan-time reduction using CS and parallel imaging and may be useful for motion-prone or pediatric patients requiring 3D images
where time-efficiency is important.
