Measuring Blood Flow Characteristics Using Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Overview

Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI gives quantitative and semi-quantitative information about the integrity of the vascular system and can be used to quantify blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. The BBB plays a pathophysiological role in diabetes, cognitive disorders such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Although dysfunctional, changes in BBB integrity for these conditions are thought to be subtle and close to intact values. Recent studies have shown it is possible measure small changes in the BBB integrity as an early sign of disease using DCE MRI. The objective of this study is to apply an optimized DCE imaging protocol and novel image post-processing to obtain new information about the BBB integrity in aging. These techniques show promise for both improving clinical diagnosis, and elucidated the physiology or various disease processes.

Objectives The objective of this investigator-initiated study is to continue and extend this research by applying our optimized DCE imaging protocol (using the standard FDA approved DCE sequence) and our novel image post-processing to obtain new information about the BBB integrity in aging. Study Procedure Overview: Subjects will be recruited either from patient's at LLUMC with an existing order for a MRI study of the head with contrast, or from an exisiting cohort at LLU that participated in a previous study. Health controls will be asked if they would like to participate in the study in order to evaluate if the optimized DCE sequence can provide useful information about various CNS diseases. Imaging: Following consent, subjects will be imaged at LLUMC using the 3T MRI scanner (Siemens Medical Solutions, Malvern, PA) after MRI safety screening questionnaire is complete. Subjects will be asked to lie on or be positioned on their backs in the MRI scanner. The coil will be placed around their head and the subject will be provided with headphones and/or earplugs during the scan. Imaging will consist of the diagnostic MR protocol requested by the ordering physician and the addition of the standard FDA approved DCE sequence. Data Collection and Analysis The collected DCE data may be processed using standard FDA approved DCE software (which the department already owns and uses clinically), used for clinical decision making purposes, and added to the patients record. The data will also be processed using specialized research software, this processing will not be used for diagnostic or clinical decision making purposes, and will not be added to the patients record. Ktrans values will be measured using region of interest analysis from the processed DCE data to determine if there are differences between the pathology of interest and healthy controls.