Ventricular function assessment using an ultrafast spoiled gradient echo sequence with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent in pediatric patients.
<h4>Background</h4>Balanced steady-state free processing (bSSFP) MR sequence has long been considered the gold standard method for ventricular function assessment (VFA), and normal values are based on this acquisition. However, bSSFP sequence suffers from susceptibility artifacts due to...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318299 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1825206831493939200 |
|---|---|
| author | Tayaba Miah Rithvik Gunda Gerald Greil Mohammad Hussain Qing Zou |
| author_facet | Tayaba Miah Rithvik Gunda Gerald Greil Mohammad Hussain Qing Zou |
| author_sort | Tayaba Miah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Balanced steady-state free processing (bSSFP) MR sequence has long been considered the gold standard method for ventricular function assessment (VFA), and normal values are based on this acquisition. However, bSSFP sequence suffers from susceptibility artifacts due to scenarios such as cardiac implants. The T1-TFE sequence, also known as ultrafast spoiled gradient sequence, is less affected by such susceptibility artifacts. While it is unclear if T1-TFE sequence yields similar VFA results as the bSSFP sequence.<h4>Purpose</h4>To validate if the T1-TFE sequence, with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent, yields similar results for VFA as the gold-standard non-contrast bSSFP approach, so that the T1-TFE sequence can be used for VFA when bSSFP approach fails.<h4>Methods</h4>Two sets of images from two different sequences were utilized in this study. T1-TFE (with contrast) scans were used as one while bSSFP-derived images were used as the other. 37 pediatric patients were recruited into this study. Semi-automated software (cvi42) was used to segment and derive ventricular volumes. Image quality was objectively assessed by comparing signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) scores. Last, two expert readers provided a subjective analysis of image quality. Paired t-tests were used to assess significant differences in volumetric values (end-diastolic and end-systolic) between T1-TFE and bSSFP sequences. A Bland-Altman analysis evaluated potential bias and agreement between these sequences.<h4>Results</h4>Ventricular function assessment via volumetric data analysis resulted in no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05), and high R2 values. SNR and CNR scores also presented with no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05), and nearly identical scores (SNR T1-TFE mean: 29.5 ± 3.1, SNR bSSFP mean: 28.8 ± 3.7, CNR T1-TFE mean: 28.8 ± 3.3, CNR bSSFP mean: 28.1 ± 4.0). Image quality assessment via expert subjective image analysis scores is consistent with the data. All Bland-Altman plots show good agreement and reveal no systematic bias or random error.<h4>Conclusion</h4>T1-TFE sequences in combination with Ferumoxytol allow reliable ventricular function assessment and overcome the limitations of traditional bSSFP MR sequences in this context. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e3f926d15b4143818bbcd85d47623e5b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-e3f926d15b4143818bbcd85d47623e5b2025-02-07T05:30:41ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031829910.1371/journal.pone.0318299Ventricular function assessment using an ultrafast spoiled gradient echo sequence with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent in pediatric patients.Tayaba MiahRithvik GundaGerald GreilMohammad HussainQing Zou<h4>Background</h4>Balanced steady-state free processing (bSSFP) MR sequence has long been considered the gold standard method for ventricular function assessment (VFA), and normal values are based on this acquisition. However, bSSFP sequence suffers from susceptibility artifacts due to scenarios such as cardiac implants. The T1-TFE sequence, also known as ultrafast spoiled gradient sequence, is less affected by such susceptibility artifacts. While it is unclear if T1-TFE sequence yields similar VFA results as the bSSFP sequence.<h4>Purpose</h4>To validate if the T1-TFE sequence, with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent, yields similar results for VFA as the gold-standard non-contrast bSSFP approach, so that the T1-TFE sequence can be used for VFA when bSSFP approach fails.<h4>Methods</h4>Two sets of images from two different sequences were utilized in this study. T1-TFE (with contrast) scans were used as one while bSSFP-derived images were used as the other. 37 pediatric patients were recruited into this study. Semi-automated software (cvi42) was used to segment and derive ventricular volumes. Image quality was objectively assessed by comparing signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) scores. Last, two expert readers provided a subjective analysis of image quality. Paired t-tests were used to assess significant differences in volumetric values (end-diastolic and end-systolic) between T1-TFE and bSSFP sequences. A Bland-Altman analysis evaluated potential bias and agreement between these sequences.<h4>Results</h4>Ventricular function assessment via volumetric data analysis resulted in no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05), and high R2 values. SNR and CNR scores also presented with no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05), and nearly identical scores (SNR T1-TFE mean: 29.5 ± 3.1, SNR bSSFP mean: 28.8 ± 3.7, CNR T1-TFE mean: 28.8 ± 3.3, CNR bSSFP mean: 28.1 ± 4.0). Image quality assessment via expert subjective image analysis scores is consistent with the data. All Bland-Altman plots show good agreement and reveal no systematic bias or random error.<h4>Conclusion</h4>T1-TFE sequences in combination with Ferumoxytol allow reliable ventricular function assessment and overcome the limitations of traditional bSSFP MR sequences in this context.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318299 |
| spellingShingle | Tayaba Miah Rithvik Gunda Gerald Greil Mohammad Hussain Qing Zou Ventricular function assessment using an ultrafast spoiled gradient echo sequence with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent in pediatric patients. PLoS ONE |
| title | Ventricular function assessment using an ultrafast spoiled gradient echo sequence with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent in pediatric patients. |
| title_full | Ventricular function assessment using an ultrafast spoiled gradient echo sequence with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent in pediatric patients. |
| title_fullStr | Ventricular function assessment using an ultrafast spoiled gradient echo sequence with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent in pediatric patients. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ventricular function assessment using an ultrafast spoiled gradient echo sequence with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent in pediatric patients. |
| title_short | Ventricular function assessment using an ultrafast spoiled gradient echo sequence with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent in pediatric patients. |
| title_sort | ventricular function assessment using an ultrafast spoiled gradient echo sequence with an intravascular blood pool contrast agent in pediatric patients |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318299 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tayabamiah ventricularfunctionassessmentusinganultrafastspoiledgradientechosequencewithanintravascularbloodpoolcontrastagentinpediatricpatients AT rithvikgunda ventricularfunctionassessmentusinganultrafastspoiledgradientechosequencewithanintravascularbloodpoolcontrastagentinpediatricpatients AT geraldgreil ventricularfunctionassessmentusinganultrafastspoiledgradientechosequencewithanintravascularbloodpoolcontrastagentinpediatricpatients AT mohammadhussain ventricularfunctionassessmentusinganultrafastspoiledgradientechosequencewithanintravascularbloodpoolcontrastagentinpediatricpatients AT qingzou ventricularfunctionassessmentusinganultrafastspoiledgradientechosequencewithanintravascularbloodpoolcontrastagentinpediatricpatients |