CEST and nuclear Overhauser enhancement imaging with deep learning–extrapolated semisolid magnetization transfer reference: Scan-rescan reproducibility and reliability studies

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To develop a novel MR physics-driven, deep-learning, extrapolated semisolid magnetization transfer reference (DeepEMR) framework to provide fast, reliable magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) and CEST signal estimations, and to determine the reproducibility and reliability of the estimates from the DeepEMR. Methods: A neural network was designed to predict a direct water saturation and MTC-dominated signal at a certain CEST frequency offset using a few high-frequency offset features in the Z-spectrum. The accuracy, scan-rescan reproducibility, and reliability of MTC, CEST, and relayed nuclear Overhauser enhancement (rNOE) signals estimated from the DeepEMR were evaluated on numerical phantoms and in heathy volunteers at 3 T. In addition, we applied the DeepEMR method to brain tumor patients and compared tissue contrast with other CEST calculation metrics. Results: The DeepEMR method demonstrated a high degree of accuracy in the estimation of reference MTC signals at ±3.5 ppm for APT and rNOE imaging, and computational efficiency (˜190-fold) compared with a conventional fitting approach. In addition, the DeepEMR method achieved high reproducibility and reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97, intersubject coefficient of variation = 3.5%, and intrasubject coefficient of variation = 1.3%) of the estimation of MTC signals at ±3.5 ppm. In tumor patients, DeepEMR-based amide proton transfer images provided higher tumor contrast than a conventional MT ratio asymmetry image, particularly at higher B1 strengths (>1.5 μT), with a distinct delineation of the tumor core from normal tissue or peritumoral edema. Conclusion: The DeepEMR approach is feasible for measuring clean APT and rNOE effects in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies with low scan-rescan variability.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1002-1015
Number of pages14
JournalMagnetic resonance in medicine
Volume91
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2024

Keywords

  • APT
  • CEST
  • deep learning
  • magnetization transfer
  • rNOE

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'CEST and nuclear Overhauser enhancement imaging with deep learning–extrapolated semisolid magnetization transfer reference: Scan-rescan reproducibility and reliability studies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this