Accuracy and repeatability of joint sparsity multi-component estimation in MR Fingerprinting

MR fingerprinting (MRF) is a promising method for quantitative characterization of tissues. Often, voxel-wise measurements are made, assuming a single tissue-type per voxel. Alternatively, the Sparsity Promoting Iterative Joint Non-negative least squares Multi-Component MRF method (SPIJN-MRF) facilitates tissue parameter estima-tion for identified components as well as partial volume segmentations. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of the SPIJN-MRF parameter estimations and partial volume segmentations. This was done (1) through numerical simulations based on the BrainWeb phantoms and (2) using in vivo acquired MRF data from 5 subjects that were scanned on the same week-day for 8 consecutive weeks. The partial volume segmen-tations of the SPIJN-MRF method were compared to those obtained by two conventional methods: SPM12 and FSL. SPIJN-MRF showed higher accuracy in simulations in comparison to FSL-and SPM12-based segmentations: Fuzzy Tanimoto Coefficients (FTC) comparing these segmentations and Brainweb references were higher than 0.95 for SPIJN-MRF in all the tissues and between 0.6 and 0.7 for SPM12 and FSL in white and gray matter and between 0.5 and 0.6 in CSF. For the in vivo MRF data, the estimated relaxation times were in line with literature and minimal variation was observed. Furthermore, the coefficient of variation (CoV) for estimated tissue volumes with SPIJN-MRF were 10.5% for the myelin water, 6.0% for the white matter, 5.6% for the gray matter, 4.6% for the CSF and 1.1% for the total brain volume. CoVs for CSF and total brain volume measured on the scanned data for SPIJN-MRF were in line with those obtained with SPM12 and FSL. The CoVs for white and gray mat-ter volumes were distinctively higher for SPIJN-MRF than those measured with SPM12 and FSL. In conclusion, the use of SPIJN-MRF provides accurate and precise tissue relaxation parameter estimations taking into account intrinsic partial volume effects. It facilitates obtaining tissue fraction maps of prevalent tissues including myelin water which can be relevant for evaluating diseases affecting the white matter.Radiolog

Convergent Transcription of Interferon-stimulated Genes by TNF-α and IFN-α Augments Antiviral Activity against HCV and HEV

IFN-α has been used for decades to treat chronic hepatitis B and C, and as an off-label treatment for

dtiRIM: A generalisable deep learning method for diffusion tensor imaging

Diffusion weighted MRI is an indispensable tool for routine patient screening and diagnostics of pathology. Recently, several deep learning methods have been proposed to quantify diffusion parameters, but poor generalisation to new data prevents broader use of these methods, as they require retraining of the neural network for each new scan protocol. In this work, we present the dtiRIM, a new deep learning method for Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) based on the Recurrent Inference Machines. Thanks to its ability to learn how to solve inverse problems and to use the diffusion tensor model to promote data consistency, the dtiRIM can generalise to variations in the acquisition settings. This enables a single trained network to produce high quality tensor estimates for a variety of cases. We performed extensive validation of our method using simulation and in vivo data, and compared it to the Iterated Weighted Linear Least Squares (IWLLS), the approach of the state-of-the-art MRTrix3 software, and to an implementation of the Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE). Our results show that dtiRIM predictions present low dependency on tissue properties, anatomy and scanning parameters, with results comparable to or better than both IWLLS and MLE. Further, we demonstrate that a single dtiRIM model can be used for a diversity of data sets without significant loss in quality, representing, to our knowledge, the first generalisable deep learning based solver for DTI

Bias correction of maximum likelihood estimation in quantitative MRI

For quantitative MRI techniques, such as T1, T2 mapping and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), a model has to be fit to several MR images that are acquired with suitably chosen different acquisition settings. The most efficient estimator to retrieve the parameters is the Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimator. However, the standard ML estimator is biased for finite sample sizes. In this paper we derive a bias correction formula for magnitude MR images. This correction is applied in two different simulation experiments, a T2 mapping experiment and a DTI experiment. We show that the correction formula successfully removes the bias. As the correction is performed as post-processing, it is possible to retrospectively correct the results of previous quantitative experiments. With this procedure more accurate quantitative values can be obtained from quantitative MR acquisitions.</p

Relating pre-treatment non-Gaussian intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging to human papillomavirus status and response in oropharyngeal carcinoma

Background and purpose:Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a promising technique for response assessment in head-and-neck cancer. Recently, we optimized Non-Gaussian Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Imaging (NG-IVIM), an extension of the conventional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) model, for the head and neck. In the current study, we describe the first application in a group of patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to relate ADC and NG-IVIM DWI parameters to HPV status and clinical treatment response. Materials and methods: Thirty-six patients (18 HPV-positive, 18 HPV-negative) were prospectively included. Presence of progressive disease was scored within one year. The mean pre-treatment ADC and NG-IVIM parameters in the gross tumor volume were compared between HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients. In HPV-negative patients, ADC and NG-IVIM parameters were compared between patients with and without progressive disease.Results: ADC, the NG-IVIM diffusion coefficient D, and perfusion fraction f were significantly higher, while pseudo-diffusion coefficient D* and kurtosis K were significantly lower in the HPV-negative compared to HPV-positive patients. In the HPV-negative group, a significantly lower D was found for patients with progressive disease compared to complete responders. No relation with ADC was observed. Conclusion: The results of our single-center study suggest that ADC is related to HPV status, but not an independent response predictor. The NG-IVIM parameter D, however, was independently associated to response in the HPV-negative group. Noteworthy in the opposite direction as previously thought based on ADC.</p

Groupwise registration for correcting subject motion and eddy current distortions in diffusion MRI using a PCA based dissimilarity metric

Before starting a diffusion-weighted MRI analysis, it is important to correct any misalignment between the diffusion-weighted images (DWIs) that was caused by subject motion and eddy current induced geometric distortions. Conventional methods adopt a pairwise registration approach, in which the non-DWI, a.k.a. the b D 0 image, is used as a reference. In this work, a groupwise affine registration framework, using a global dissimilarity metric, is proposed, which eliminates the need for selecting a reference image and which does not rely on a specific method that models the diffusion characteristics. The dissimilarity metric is based on principal component analysis (PCA) and is ideally suited for DWIs, in which the signal contrast varies drastically as a function of the applied gradient orientation. The proposed method is tested on synthetic data, with known ground-truth transformation parameters, and real diffusion MRI data, resulting in successful alignment.</p

Recurrent inference machines as inverse problem solvers for MR relaxometry

In this paper, we propose the use of Recurrent Inference Machines (RIMs) to perform T1 and T2 mapping. The RIM is a neural network framework that learns an iterative inference process based on the signal model, similar to conventional statistical methods for quantitative MRI (QMRI), such as the Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE). This framework combines the advantages of both data-driven and model-based methods, and, we hypothesize, is a promising tool for QMRI. Previously, RIMs were used to solve linear inverse reconstruction problems. Here, we show that they can also be used to optimize non-linear problems and estimate relaxometry maps with high precision and accuracy. The developed RIM framework is evaluated in terms of accuracy and precision and compared to an MLE method and an implementation of the Residual Neural Network (ResNet). The results show that the RIM improves the quality of estimates compared to the other techniques in Monte Carlo experiments with simulated data, test-retest analysis of a system phantom, and in-vivo scans. Additionally, inference with the RIM is 150 times faster than the MLE, and robustness to (slight) variations of scanning parameters is demonstrated. Hence, the RIM is a promising and flexible method for QMRI. Coupled with an open-source training data generation tool, it presents a compelling alternative to previous methods

CSF contamination-invariant statistics in diffusion-weighted MRI

In diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), the detection of microstructural change in brain white matter structures that border cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is complicated by partial volume effects. The conventional diffusion tensor model is very sensitive to CSF contamination, which may leave subtle microstructural change undetected or may lead to detection of spurious microstructural change due to white matter atrophy. In this paper we present a novel method to detect microstructural change in CSF contaminated voxels of white matter structures imaged with conventional DW-MRI protocols. To the diffusion-weighted images (DWIs) a two-compartment tensor model, which has a tissue and a CSF compartment, is fitted by maximum likelihood estimation. However, this estimation problem has an infinite set of (almost) equally likely solution for DWIs acquired at a single b-value. We use statistical properties of this infinite set as statistics by fitting a trace-constrained bi-tensor model. We demonstrate on simulated diffusion-weighted data that our method is more sensitive to detect subtle changes in the microstructure of CSF contaminated voxels than the conventional single tensor model. In a small pilot study, using data of aging subjects to investigate the fornix with the proposed method, we found that the compartment fraction of the tissue compartment decreases significantly with age, whereas the anisotropy of the tissue compartment did not. Our method enables studying the microstructure of white matter regions that may contain CSF contamination.</p