To establish a multi-delay pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (MD pCASL) protocol on a 5 T ultra-high-field MRI system and to compare the performance of three-dimensional echo-planar imaging (3D-EPI) and three-dimensional gradient and spin echo (3D-GRASE) readout sequences in cerebral perfusion imaging. The study also aims to assess the potential of 3D-EPI for high-resolution MD pCASL at ultra-high field strength.
Ten healthy volunteers underwent MD pCASL examinations on a 5 T MRI system with post-labeling delays ranging from 500 to 3,000 ms. Both 3D-EPI and 3D-GRASE sequences were acquired using the same spatial resolution. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial transit time (ATT) were calculated using the BASIL toolbox in the FMRIB Software Library. Image quality was evaluated using the blur quality metric (BQM) and subjective scoring.
Both sequences produced perfusion images of acceptable quality. Quantitative and qualitative assessments showed that 3D-EPI had significantly lower through-plane blurring than 3D-GRASE (BQM: 0.23±0.02 vs. 0.35±0.02). The subjective scores were also higher for 3D-EPI [3D-GRASE: 4.00 (4.00, 4.00); 3D-EPI: 10.00 (8.00, 11.00)], indicating better anatomical clarity. In addition, 3D-EPI achieved a shorter scan time (4 min 13 s vs. 5 min 18 s). CBF and ATT values derived from the two sequences showed strong correlations across the whole brain and within gray and white matter.
In 5 T MD pCASL imaging, 3D-EPI provides improved structural sharpness and reduced scan time compared with 3D-GRASE, while maintaining good agreement in CBF and ATT quantification. These results suggest that 3D-EPI is a promising readout option for high-resolution ASL at ultra-high field and may enhance the detection of small lesions and the evaluation of complex hemodynamic features.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |