Accuracy of Real-Time Echo-Planar Imaging Phase Contrast MRI

TL;DR

This study evaluates the accuracy of real-time echo-planar imaging phase contrast MRI (EPI-PC) for blood flow measurement, demonstrating it can achieve rapid imaging with less than 3% error compared to traditional CINE-PC.

Contribution

The paper provides validation of EPI-PC's accuracy in blood flow quantification using a simulated cerebral vasculature model, highlighting its potential for real-time imaging.

Findings

EPI-PC achieves 62ms/image imaging time at 100*60 resolution.

EPI-PC flow measurements have less than 3% error compared to CINE-PC.

EPI-PC flow curves are similar in shape to CINE-PC flow curves.

Abstract

Compared with CINE phase contrast MRI (CINE-PC), echo-planar imaging phase contrast (EPI-PC) can achieve realtime quantification of blood flow, with lower SNR. In this study, the pulsating real model of the simulated cerebral vasculature was used to verify the accuracy of EPI-PC. The imaging time of EPI-PC was 62ms/image at 100*60 spatial resolution. The reconstructed EPI-PC flow curve was extracted by homemade post-processing software. After comparison with the CINE-PC flow curve, it was concluded that EPI-PC can provide an average flow with less than 3% error, and its flow curve will be similar to the CINE-PC flow curve in shape.