Temporal covariance analysis of first-pass contrast-enhanced myocardial magnetic resonance images

• Published in: Computers in biology and medicine 2001-03, Vol.31 (2), p.133-142
• Main Authors: Boudraa, Abdel-Ouahab, Behloul, Faiza, Janier, Marc, Canet, Emmanuelle, Champier, Jacques, Roux, Jean-Pierre, Revel, Didier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Body Surface Potential Mapping; Cardiovascular system; Contrast Media; Coronary Circulation; Coronary Disease - diagnosis; Covariance function; Gadolinium DTPA; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Medical sciences; Myocardial perfusion; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Time-series analysis
• ISSN: 0010-4825; 1879-0534
• DOI: 10.1016/S0010-4825(00)00028-7

In this paper a temporal covariance method designed to analyze a Magnetic resonance (MR) image sequence of myocardial perfusion is presented. This method is used to map the first-pass transit of a contrast agent (Gd–chelates) through the heart. A map of bolus transit delay is constructed pixel by pixel corresponding to a myocardial reference using a temporal covariance measure. The resulting covariance map is a parametric image representing regions with different temporal dynamics. The proposed method is evaluated in 14 patients with coronary artery disease and eight healthy volunteers. Under rest and stress, covariance method is able to reveal a perfusion defect in stenosed coronary-artery-related myocardium. Furthermore, the method presents the advantage of its easy implementation and real-time parametric map construction.