Arterial Input Function Reconstruction for DCE-MRI of the Liver Using Pre-Bolus Acquisition with Low Dose Gadolinium Contrast

Guido H. Jajamovich¹, Claudia Calcagno¹, Hadrien A. Dyvorne¹, Henry Rusinek², Shimon Aronhime¹, Bachir Taouli¹

A reconstructed arterial input function (AIF) using prebolus injection of a low dose gadolinium contrast (1.3 mL) was quantified and compared with the measured AIF after the injection of the main bolus in DCE-MRI of the liver. The curve shape reconstructed using pre-bolus injection was observed to be of better quality than the measured main bolus AIF in the majority of cases. The quantified AIF using pre-bolus showed better parameter reproducibility and significantly higher AUC60 (area under the curve at 60 sec), peak and upslope and significantly lower FWHM (full width at half maximum) compared to main bolus AIF.