Estimation of the Arterial Input Function in a Mouse Tail from the Signal Phase of Projection Profiles

Jennifer Moroz¹, Andrew Yung¹, Piotr Kozlowski¹, Stefan Reinsberg¹

Quantitative DCE-MRI analysis requires an accurate measure of the arterial input function (AIF). The AIF should have a high temporal resolution and be acquired for each experiment. However, AIF acquisition in mice is challenging because of their small size and rapid heart rates. This work demonstrates that a high temporal resolution AIF may be determined from a series of projection scans using phase data. An AIF in a mouse tail, having a temporal resolution of 100 ms, was successfully measured. The results suggest that rapid AIF acquisition in a mouse is possible and it may be interleaved with DCE experiments.