Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging
First Claim
1. :
- A method of enhancing a dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance image comprising the steps of;
for each voxel of the image fitting to the magnetic resonance signal a parameterised pharmaco-kinetic model of the contrast enhancement process in the sample being imaged to calculate the values of parameters of the model which represent properties of the imaged sample, and displaying the image with each of said parameters being represented in a visually distinguishable manner.
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Abstract
A method of dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and of processing the signals from such imaging, in order to improve the characterisation of tissue types being imaged. A calculation of the longitudinal relaxation time T1 is made for each voxel in the image by applying pulse sequences having different flip angles or TRs and fitting the resulting resonance signals to a model of the imaging process. Dynamic, contrast-enhanced imaging is then conducted and by using the T1 values the results may be fitted to a pharmacokinetic model of the uptake of contrast agent in the tissue being imaged. This gives values for physiological parameters relating to the permeability of the tissue and the extravascular extracellular space volume fraction. These, together with the T1 value provide an excellent characterisation of the tissue as malignant or benign. The parameters may be displayed using a vector map or by displaying each of them in a different colour, allowing a quick and meaningful of the image to be made.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. :
- A method of enhancing a dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance image comprising the steps of;
for each voxel of the image fitting to the magnetic resonance signal a parameterised pharmaco-kinetic model of the contrast enhancement process in the sample being imaged to calculate the values of parameters of the model which represent properties of the imaged sample, and displaying the image with each of said parameters being represented in a visually distinguishable manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- A method of enhancing a dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance image comprising the steps of;
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11. :
- A method of magnetic resonance imaging comprising the steps of;
acquiring resonance signals by applying to a subject successive electromagnetic pulse sequences, each sequence differing in a selected acquisition parameter, and calculating from the resonance signals the longitudinal relaxation time (T1) for the sample. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- A method of magnetic resonance imaging comprising the steps of;
Specification