Neural networks with personalized training for improved MOLLI T1 mapping

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to develop a method for personalized training of Deep Neural Networks by means of an MRI simulator to improve MOLLI native T1 estimates relative to conventional fitting methods. Methods The proposed Personalized Training Neural Network (PTNN) for T1 mapp...

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Main Authors: Olympia Gkatsoni, Christos G. Xanthis, Sebastian Johansson, Einar Heiberg, Håkan Arheden, Anthony H. Aletras
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Medical Imaging
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-01769-z
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author Olympia Gkatsoni
Christos G. Xanthis
Sebastian Johansson
Einar Heiberg
Håkan Arheden
Anthony H. Aletras
author_facet Olympia Gkatsoni
Christos G. Xanthis
Sebastian Johansson
Einar Heiberg
Håkan Arheden
Anthony H. Aletras
author_sort Olympia Gkatsoni
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The aim of this study was to develop a method for personalized training of Deep Neural Networks by means of an MRI simulator to improve MOLLI native T1 estimates relative to conventional fitting methods. Methods The proposed Personalized Training Neural Network (PTNN) for T1 mapping was based on a neural network which was trained with simulated MOLLI signals generated for each individual scan, taking into account both the pulse sequence parameters and the heart rate triggers of the specific healthy volunteer. Experimental data from eleven phantoms and ten healthy volunteers were included in the study. Results In phantom studies, agreement between T1 reference values and those obtained with the PTNN yielded a statistically significant smaller bias than conventional fitting estimates (-26.69 ± 29.5ms vs. -65.0 ± 33.25ms, p < 0.001). For in vivo studies, T1 estimates derived from the PTNN yielded higher T1 values (1152.4 ± 25.8ms myocardium, 1640.7 ± 30.6ms blood) than conventional fitting (1050.8 ± 24.7ms myocardium, 1597.2 ± 39.9ms blood). For PTNN, shortening the acquisition time by eliminating the pause between inversion pulses yielded higher myocardial T1 values (1162.2 ± 19.7ms with pause vs. 1127.1 ± 19.7ms, p = 0.01 myocardium), (1624.7 ± 33.9ms with pause vs. 1645.4 ± 18.7ms, p = 0.16 blood). For conventional fitting statistically significant differences were found. Conclusions Compared to T1 maps derived by conventional fitting, PTNN is a post-processing method that yielded T1 maps with higher values and better accuracy in phantoms for a physiological range of T1 and T2 values. In normal volunteers PTNN yielded higher T1 values even with a shorter acquisition scheme of eight heartbeats scan time, without deploying new pulse sequences.
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spelling doaj-art-5c4d510da8c64d719cb0937a3e2f44192025-08-20T03:45:39ZengBMCBMC Medical Imaging1471-23422025-07-0125111610.1186/s12880-025-01769-zNeural networks with personalized training for improved MOLLI T1 mappingOlympia Gkatsoni0Christos G. Xanthis1Sebastian Johansson2Einar Heiberg3Håkan Arheden4Anthony H. Aletras5Laboratory of Computing, Medical Informatics and Biomedical – Imaging Technologies, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiClinical Physiology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skåne University HospitalClinical Physiology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skåne University HospitalClinical Physiology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skåne University HospitalClinical Physiology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skåne University HospitalLaboratory of Computing, Medical Informatics and Biomedical – Imaging Technologies, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiAbstract Background The aim of this study was to develop a method for personalized training of Deep Neural Networks by means of an MRI simulator to improve MOLLI native T1 estimates relative to conventional fitting methods. Methods The proposed Personalized Training Neural Network (PTNN) for T1 mapping was based on a neural network which was trained with simulated MOLLI signals generated for each individual scan, taking into account both the pulse sequence parameters and the heart rate triggers of the specific healthy volunteer. Experimental data from eleven phantoms and ten healthy volunteers were included in the study. Results In phantom studies, agreement between T1 reference values and those obtained with the PTNN yielded a statistically significant smaller bias than conventional fitting estimates (-26.69 ± 29.5ms vs. -65.0 ± 33.25ms, p < 0.001). For in vivo studies, T1 estimates derived from the PTNN yielded higher T1 values (1152.4 ± 25.8ms myocardium, 1640.7 ± 30.6ms blood) than conventional fitting (1050.8 ± 24.7ms myocardium, 1597.2 ± 39.9ms blood). For PTNN, shortening the acquisition time by eliminating the pause between inversion pulses yielded higher myocardial T1 values (1162.2 ± 19.7ms with pause vs. 1127.1 ± 19.7ms, p = 0.01 myocardium), (1624.7 ± 33.9ms with pause vs. 1645.4 ± 18.7ms, p = 0.16 blood). For conventional fitting statistically significant differences were found. Conclusions Compared to T1 maps derived by conventional fitting, PTNN is a post-processing method that yielded T1 maps with higher values and better accuracy in phantoms for a physiological range of T1 and T2 values. In normal volunteers PTNN yielded higher T1 values even with a shorter acquisition scheme of eight heartbeats scan time, without deploying new pulse sequences.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-01769-zCardiac MRIDeep learningT1 mappingMRI simulator
spellingShingle Olympia Gkatsoni
Christos G. Xanthis
Sebastian Johansson
Einar Heiberg
Håkan Arheden
Anthony H. Aletras
Neural networks with personalized training for improved MOLLI T1 mapping
BMC Medical Imaging
Cardiac MRI
Deep learning
T1 mapping
MRI simulator
title Neural networks with personalized training for improved MOLLI T1 mapping
title_full Neural networks with personalized training for improved MOLLI T1 mapping
title_fullStr Neural networks with personalized training for improved MOLLI T1 mapping
title_full_unstemmed Neural networks with personalized training for improved MOLLI T1 mapping
title_short Neural networks with personalized training for improved MOLLI T1 mapping
title_sort neural networks with personalized training for improved molli t1 mapping
topic Cardiac MRI
Deep learning
T1 mapping
MRI simulator
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-01769-z
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AT einarheiberg neuralnetworkswithpersonalizedtrainingforimprovedmollit1mapping
AT hakanarheden neuralnetworkswithpersonalizedtrainingforimprovedmollit1mapping
AT anthonyhaletras neuralnetworkswithpersonalizedtrainingforimprovedmollit1mapping