SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING BOTH T2*-WEIGHTED AND T1-WEIGHTED DATA IN A SINGLE ACQUISITION USING A SINGLE DOSE OF CONTRAST AGENT

摘要

Described here are systems and methods for obtaining measurements of both tissue perfusion and permeability with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system after the administration of a single dose of contrast agent. To this end, the MRI system is directed to acquire T2*-weighted data, during which the acquired signal values are monitored for a trigger event. When the trigger event occurs, the MRI system is directed to switch from acquiring the T2*-weighted data to acquiring T1-weighted data. The systems and methods of the present invention can thus be used for a fully automated, single acquisition of perfusion and permeability measurements using only a single dose of contrast agent.

主权项

1. A method for directing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire T2*-weighted data and T1-weighted data from a subject in which a single dose of contrast agent is present, the steps comprising:
a) administering a dose of a contrast agent to the subject; b) directing the MRI system to acquire T2*-weighted data from the subject while the dose of contrast agent is present in the subject; c) monitoring signal values in the T2*-weighted data for a trigger event while the MRI system is acquiring the T2*-weighted data; and d) directing the MRI system to acquire T1-weighted data from the subject while the dose of contrast agent is present in the subject by switching from a T2*-weighted pulse sequence to a T1-weighted pulse sequence when the trigger event occurs.