Magnetic resonance fingerprinting of the pancreas at 1.5 T and 3.0 T

• Published in: Scientific reports 2020-10, Vol.10 (1), p.17563-17563, Article 17563
• Main Authors: Serrao, Eva M., Kessler, Dimitri A., Carmo, Bruno, Beer, Lucian, Brindle, Kevin M., Buonincontri, Guido, Gallagher, Ferdia A., Gilbert, Fiona J., Godfrey, Edmund, Graves, Martin J., McLean, Mary A., Sala, Evis, Schulte, Rolf F., Kaggie, Joshua D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/308/53/2421; 692/700/1421; Adult; Algorithms; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Motion; multidisciplinary; Pancreas - diagnostic imaging; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Phantoms, Imaging; Prospective Studies; Respiration; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74462-6

Magnetic resonance imaging of the pancreas is increasingly used as an important diagnostic modality for characterisation of pancreatic lesions. Pancreatic MRI protocols are mostly qualitative due to time constraints and motion sensitivity. MR Fingerprinting is an innovative acquisition technique that provides qualitative data and quantitative parameter maps from a single free‐breathing acquisition with the potential to reduce exam times. This work investigates the feasibility of MRF parameter mapping for pancreatic imaging in the presence of free-breathing exam. Sixteen healthy participants were prospectively imaged using MRF framework. Regions-of-interest were drawn in multiple solid organs including the pancreas and T 1 and T 2  values determined. MRF T 1 and T 2 mapping was performed successfully in all participants (acquisition time:2.4–3.6 min). Mean pancreatic T 1 values were 37–43% lower than those of the muscle, spleen, and kidney at both 1.5 and 3.0 T. For these organs, the mean pancreatic T 2 values were nearly 40% at 1.5 T and