Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Based Quantitative Kidney Perfusion Analysis

摘要

Example apparatus and methods provide improved spatial and temporal resolution over conventional magnetic resonance renography (MRR). Example apparatus and methods reconstruct under-sampled three-dimensional (3D) data associated with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals acquired from a kidney. The data is reconstructed using a 3D through-time non-Cartesian generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) approach. Example apparatus and methods produce a quantized value for a contrast agent concentration in the kidney from a signal intensity in the data based, at least in part, on a two compartment model of the kidney. The two compartment model includes a plasma compartment and a tubular compartment. The quantized value describes a perfusion parameter for the kidney or a filtration parameter for the kidney. Greater precision is achieved for estimates of the perfusion parameter or filtration parameter as a result of the quantization performed on data acquired with greater spatial resolution and temporal resolution.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus to acquire a series of three-dimensional (3D) data sets, where a member of the series of 3D data sets is associated with a portion of a kidney, and where the series of 3D data sets are acquired during a free-breathing dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI procedure that includes presenting a contrast agent to the kidney; controlling the MRI apparatus to reconstruct the series of 3D data sets into a corresponding series of 3D images using a 3D through-time non-Cartesian generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) approach; and producing a quantified value for a renal perfusion parameter for the kidney as a function of a signal intensity associated with the concentration of contrast agent in the kidney as displayed in one or more members of the series of 3D images and as a function of a two compartment model of a kidney, where the two compartment model includes a plasma compartment and a tubular compartment.