T2* relaxometry of fetal brain at 1.5 Tesla using a motion tolerant method

TY - JOUR

T1 - T2* relaxometry of fetal brain at 1.5 Tesla using a motion tolerant method

AU - Vasylechko, Serge

AU - Malamateniou, Christina

AU - Fox, Matthew

AU - Allsop, Joanna

AU - Rutherford, Mary

AU - Rueckert, Daniel

AU - Hajnal, Joseph V

AU - Nunes, Rita G.

N1 - © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PY - 2015/5/1

Y1 - 2015/5/1

N2 - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine T2* values for the fetal brain in utero and to compare them with previously reported values in preterm and term neonates. Knowledge of T2* may be useful for assessing brain development, brain abnormalities, and for optimizing functional imaging studies.METHODS: Maternal respiration and unpredictable fetal motion mean that conventional multishot acquisition techniques used in adult T2* relaxometry studies are not practical. Single shot multiecho echo planar imaging was used as a rapid method for measuring fetal T2* by effectively freezing intra-slice motion.RESULTS: T2* determined from a sample of 24 subjects correlated negatively with gestational age with mean values of 220 ms (±45) for frontal white matter, 159 ms (±32) for thalamic gray matter, and 236 ms (±45) for occipital white matter.CONCLUSION: Fetal T2* values are higher than those previously reported for preterm neonates and decline with a consistent trend across gestational age. The data suggest that longer than usual echo times or direct T2* measurement should be considered when performing fetal fMRI to reach optimal BOLD sensitivity.

AB - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine T2* values for the fetal brain in utero and to compare them with previously reported values in preterm and term neonates. Knowledge of T2* may be useful for assessing brain development, brain abnormalities, and for optimizing functional imaging studies.METHODS: Maternal respiration and unpredictable fetal motion mean that conventional multishot acquisition techniques used in adult T2* relaxometry studies are not practical. Single shot multiecho echo planar imaging was used as a rapid method for measuring fetal T2* by effectively freezing intra-slice motion.RESULTS: T2* determined from a sample of 24 subjects correlated negatively with gestational age with mean values of 220 ms (±45) for frontal white matter, 159 ms (±32) for thalamic gray matter, and 236 ms (±45) for occipital white matter.CONCLUSION: Fetal T2* values are higher than those previously reported for preterm neonates and decline with a consistent trend across gestational age. The data suggest that longer than usual echo times or direct T2* measurement should be considered when performing fetal fMRI to reach optimal BOLD sensitivity.

U2 - 10.1002/mrm.25299

DO - 10.1002/mrm.25299

M3 - Article

C2 - 25046845

SN - 1522-2594

VL - 73

SP - 1795

EP - 1802

JO - Magnetic resonance in medicine : official journal of the Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine / Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

JF - Magnetic resonance in medicine : official journal of the Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine / Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

IS - 5

ER -