Abstract #4363

Improved Quantification of Pharmacokinetic Parameters at 3 Tesla Considering B1 Inhomogeneities

Robert Merwa¹, Gernot Reishofer², Thorsten Feiweier³, Karin Kapp⁴, Franz Ebner², Rudolf Stollberger¹

¹Institute of Medical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria; ²Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; ³MED MR PLM AW Neurology, Siemens AG Healthcare Sector, Erlangen, Germany; ⁴Department of Radiation Therapy, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

The determination of kinetic parameters depends strongly on the inhomogenities of the RF-field. Due to the magnitude of these inhomogenities the values for the AIF and tissue concentrations are widespread which lead to an overestimation or underestimation of Ktrans and Ve. An essential improvement can be achieved if the dynamic data are corrected accordingly. The absolute difference of Ktrans and Ve obtained with the AIF in two comparable arteries can be improved by a factor up to 33 when using the correction procedure. Also the coefficient of variation of the kinetic parameters could be improved.