Independent validation of metric optimized gating for fetal cardiovascular phase‐contrast flow imaging. Issue 1 (29th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bidhult, Sebastian; Töger, Johannes; Heiberg, Einar; Carlsson, Marcus; Arheden, Håkan; Aletras, Anthony H.; Hedström, Erik
• Is Part Of: Magnetic resonance in medicine. Volume 81:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 495
• Page End: 503
• Publication Date: 2018-08-29
• Subjects: fetal MRI -- metric optimized gating -- PC‐MR validation; Nuclear magnetic resonance -- Periodicals; Electron paramagnetic resonance -- Periodicals; 616.07548
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27392
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0740-3194

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To validate metric optimized gating phase‐contrast MR (MOG PC‐MR) flow measurements for a range of fetal flow velocities in phantom experiments. 2) To investigate intra‐ and interobserver variability for fetal flow measurements at an imaging center other than the original site. Methods: MOG PC‐MR was compared to timer/beaker measurements in a pulsatile flow phantom using a heart rate (∼145 bpm), nozzle diameter (∼6 mm), and flow range (∼130–700 mL/min) similar to fetal imaging. Fifteen healthy fetuses were included for intra‐ and interobserver variability in the fetal descending aorta and umbilical vein. Results: Phantom MOG PC‐MR flow bias and variability was 2% ± 23%. Accuracy of MOG PC‐MR was degraded for flow profiles with low velocity‐to‐noise ratio. Intra‐ and interobserver coefficients of variation were 6% and 19%, respectively, for fetal descending aorta; and 10% and 17%, respectively, for the umbilical vein. Conclusion: Phantom validation showed good agreement between MOG and conventionally gated PC‐MR, except for cases with low velocity‐to‐noise ratio, which resulted in MOG misgating and underestimated peak velocities and warranted optimization of sequence parameters to individual fetal vessels. Inter‐ and intraobserver variability for fetal MOG PC‐MR imaging were comparable to previously reported values.