Method and apparatus for imaging abdominal aorta and aortic aneurysms
First Claim
1. A method of imaging a portion of the aorta of a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method comprising:
- determining an arrival time of a test bolus in a region of interest;
correlating an administration of a magnetic resonance contrast agent with an acquisition of magnetic resonance image data using the arrival time of the test bolus;
administering the magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and
acquiring the magnetic resonance image data using a 3D pulse sequence having a TR which is less than about 25 milliseconds, a TE which is less than about 7 milliseconds, and a slice thickness of less than about 4 millimeters, wherein the image data is acquired while the concentration of the contrast agent in the portion of the aorta is greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the portion of the aorta.
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Abstract
The present invention is a technique and apparatus for acquiring anatomic information used in diagnosing and characterizing abdominal aortic aneurismal disease and the like. This technique provides anatomic information, in the form of images, using a combination of a plurality of magnetic resonance angiography sequences, including a spin-echo and four contrast enhanced (e.g., gadolinium) magnetic resonance angiography sequences. The anatomic images may be used in, for example, pre-operative, operative and post-operative evaluation of aortic pathology, including aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and occlusive disease of branch vessels such as the renal arteries. The gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography provides sufficient anatomic detail to detect aneurysms and all relevant major branch vessel abnormalities seen at angiography operation. This technique and apparatus allows for imaging the aorta at a fraction of the cost of conventional aortography and without the risks of arterial catheterization or iodinated contrast.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of imaging a portion of the aorta of a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method comprising:
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determining an arrival time of a test bolus in a region of interest;
correlating an administration of a magnetic resonance contrast agent with an acquisition of magnetic resonance image data using the arrival time of the test bolus;
administering the magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and
acquiring the magnetic resonance image data using a 3D pulse sequence having a TR which is less than about 25 milliseconds, a TE which is less than about 7 milliseconds, and a slice thickness of less than about 4 millimeters, wherein the image data is acquired while the concentration of the contrast agent in the portion of the aorta is greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the portion of the aorta. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
correlating the acquisition of magnetic resonance image data which is representative of the center of k-space with the administration of the magnetic resonance contrast agent.
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6. The method of claim 1 wherein acquiring magnetic resonance image data further includes using a 3D spoiled gradient echo pulse sequence.
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7. The method of claim 1 further including imaging at least one renal artery of the patient by acquiring magnetic resonance image data, of a coronally oriented image volume including the renal artery, using a gradient echo pulse sequence, the image data being acquired while the concentration of the contrast agent in the renal artery is substantially greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery.
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8. The method of claim 1 further including imaging at least one renal artery of the patient by acquiring magnetic resonance image data including image data which is representative of the center of k-space while the concentration of the contrast agent in the renal artery is substantially greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery.
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9. The method of claim 8 wherein imaging at least one renal artery of the patient further includes collecting 3D phase contrast images.
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10. The method of claim 1 wherein the image volume of the 3D pulse sequence includes at least one dimension which is greater than 25 centimeters.
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11. The method of claim 1 further including:
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collecting image data of a pre-contrast image data set including collecting image data before administering a substantial amount of the magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and
constructing an image of the portion of the aorta by subtracting the image data of the pre-contrast image data set from the image data acquired while the concentration of the contrast agent in the portion of the aorta is greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the portion of the aorta.
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12. The method of claim 1 wherein administering the magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient includes infusing the contrast agent to the patient at a rate which is greater than 0.0015 liters/kilogram-second2 divided by the relaxivity of the contrast agent.
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13. The method of claim 1 further including:
acquiring image data of the periphery of k-space while the concentration of the contrast agent in the aorta is greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the aorta.
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14. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data includes acquiring image data which is representative of the periphery of k-space immediately after acquiring image data which is representative of the center of k-space.
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15. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data includes collecting image data which is representative of a first portion of the periphery of k-space immediately before collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space and collecting image data which is representative of a second portion of the periphery of k-space immediately after collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space.
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16. A method of imaging an abdominal aorta of a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method comprising:
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determining an arrival time of a magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest;
correlating an administration of the magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient with a collection of magnetic resonance image data using the arrival time of the magnetic resonance contrast agent in the region of interest;
administering the magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and
collecting the magnetic resonance image data using 3D pulse sequence, wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data includes collecting a substantial portion of the image data while the concentration of the contrast agent in the abdominal aorta is greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the abdominal aorta. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
collecting image data of a pre-contrast image data set including collecting image data before administering a substantial amount of the magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and
constructing an image of the abdominal aorta by subtracting the image data of the pre-contrast image data set from the image data acquired while the concentration of the contrast agent in the abdominal aorta is substantially greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the abdominal aorta.
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28. The method of claim 16 wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data further includes collecting image data of the periphery of k-space while the concentration of the contrast agent in the aorta is greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the aorta.
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29. The method of claim 16 wherein administering the magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient includes infusing the contrast agent to the patient at a rate which is greater than 0.0015 liters/kilogram-second2 divided by the relaxivity of the contrast agent.
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30. The method of claim 16 wherein determining the arrival time of a magnetic resonance contrast agent in the region of interest includes estimating the arrival time based on the physical condition or age of the patient.
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31. The method of claim 16 wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data includes acquiring image data which is representative of the periphery of k-space immediately after acquiring image data which is representative of the center of k-space.
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32. The method of claim 16 wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data includes acquiring image data which is representative of a first portion of the periphery of k-space immediately before collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space and collecting image data which is representative of a second portion of the periphery of k-space immediately after collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space.
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33. A method of imaging an abdominal aorta of a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system wherein the abdominal aorta is located in a region of interest, the method comprising:
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calculating an arrival time of the contrast agent in the region of interest;
administering a magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and
collecting magnetic resonance image data of an image volume, which includes the abdominal aorta, based on the arrival time and using a 3D pulse sequence having a TR which is less than about 25 milliseconds, a TE which is less than about 7 milliseconds, and a slice thickness of less than about 4 millimeters, wherein at least a portion of the image data is collected while the concentration of the contrast in the abdominal aorta is greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the abdominal aorta. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
collecting image data of a pre-contrast image data set including collecting image data before administering a substantial amount of the magnetic resonance contrast agent to the patient; and
constructing an image of the abdominal aorta by subtracting the image data of the pre-contrast image data set from the image data acquired while the concentration of the contrast agent in the abdominal aorta is substantially greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the abdominal aorta.
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42. The method of claim 33 wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data includes collecting image data of the periphery of k-space while the concentration of the contrast agent in the aorta is greater than concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the aorta.
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43. The method of claim 33 wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data includes collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space while the patient suspends respiration.
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44. The method of claim 33 wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data includes collecting image data which is representative of the periphery of k-space immediately after collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space.
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45. The method of claim 33 wherein collecting magnetic resonance image data includes collecting image data which is representative of a first portion of the periphery of k-space immediately before collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space and collecting image data which is representative of a second portion of the periphery of k-space immediately after collecting image data which is representative of the center of k-space.
Specification