Simultaneous OEF & Haematocrit Assessment Using T2 Prepared Blood Relaxation Imaging with Inversion Recovery

Esben Thade Petersen¹, ², Jill De Vis¹, Thomas Alderliesten³, Karina J. Kersbergen³, Manon Benders³, Jeroen Hendrikse¹, C. A. T. van den Berg²

In this work we present a robust method which simultaneously measures T1 and T2 of the venous blood using a T2-Prepared Tissue Relaxation Inversion Recovery (T2-TRIR) sequence from where both oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and haematocrit (Htc) are estimated. Four volunteers and 5 neonates were scanned using T2-TRIR. The initial results pinpoints the heterogeneity of T1 (Htc) and T2 (OEF) in neonates as compared to adults which necessitates mapping of bloods T1 to correct cerebral blood flow quantification using ASL or for calibrating OEF in these patients. Similar heterogeneity can be expected in cancer patients undergoing chemo and radio therapy.