Abstract #0397
Robust measurement of hepatic perfusion using an interleaved saturation prepared double echo sequence: comparison of dual-input and gradient models.
Hollingsworth K, Emmens D, Graves M, Lomas D
University of Cambridge & Addenbrooke's Hospital
Measuring hepatic perfusion robustly with MRI is a complex problem that requires accurate estimations of the aortic and portal venous gadolinium concentrations with sufficient temporal resolution following transient bolus injection. This work presents a solution using an interleaved saturation prepared sequence that collects a short saturation time, low spatial resolution, image of the aorta and a longer saturation time, higher spatial resolution, image of the hepatic parenchyma. Parallel reconstruction methods allow both images to be acquired within a single heartbeat. Dual-input model and heuristic estimates of liver perfusion are performed and compared in 6 healthy volunteers.
