Abstract #0818

T2* relaxometry of Fetal Brain Tissues using Low Field MRI

Kelly Payette^1,2, Alena U. Uus^1,2, Jordina Aviles Verdera^1,2, Megan Hall^1,2,3, Joseph V. Hajnal^1,2, Mary A. Rutherford¹, Lisa Story^1,2,3, and Jana Hutter^1,2,4

¹Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom, ²Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom, ³Department of Women and Children’s Health, St Thomas’ Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁴Smart Imaging Lab, Radiological Institute, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany

Synopsis

Keywords: Fetal, Fetus

Motivation: The complex and rapid changes during human brain development call for a matched analysis of both structure and function. T2* relaxometry delivers non-invasive insights and pairs well with low field MRI. However, regional assessment is currently lacking.

Goal(s): Investigate the ability of low field MRI to quantify regional fetal brain T2*.

Approach: We acquired dynamic multi-echo gradient-echo sequences at 0.55T and developed automatic high-resolution reconstruction and segmentation to obtain the mean T2* values of 7 individual brain tissues.

Results: Fetal brain tissues vary both in absolute T2* value and in progression have differing T2* values and growth curves throughout gestation.

Impact: Regional fetal brain T2* values, obtained with an automatic pipeline, match the complexity, speed of change and growth during early human brain development and thus carry the potential to play a significant role in future research studies and clinical monitoring.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.