Sensitivity of portable low-field magnetic resonance imaging for multiple sclerosis lesions

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103101
• Publication Date: 2022-06-27T16:26:44Z
• Authors: T. Campbell Arnold; Danni Tu; Serhat V. Okar; Govind Nair; Samantha By; Karan D. Kawatra; Timothy E. Robert...; Lisa M. Desiderio; Matthew K. Schindler; Russell T. Shinohara; Daniel S. Reich; Joel M. Stein
• Keywords: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a fundamental tool in the diagnosis and management of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). New portable, low-field strength, MRI scanners could potentially lower financial technical barriers to neuroimaging reach underserved or disabled populations, but sensitivity these devices for MS lesions unknown. We sought determine if white matter can be detected on portable 64mT scanner, compare automated lesion segmentations total volume between paired 3T scans, identify features that contribute detection accuracy, explore super-resolution at low-field. In this prospective, cross-sectional study, same-day brain (FLAIR, T1w, T2w) scans were collected from 36 adults (32 women; mean age, 50 ± 14 years) with known suspected using Siemens (FLAIR: 1 mm isotropic, T1w: T2w: 0.34-0.5 × 3-5 mm) Hyperfine 1.6 5 mm, 1.5 two centers. Images reviewed by neuroradiologists. measured manually segmented an algorithm. Statistical analyses assessed accuracy variability across systematic scanner biases volumetric measurements. Lesions identified 94% (31/33) patients confirmed MS. The average smallest 5.7 1.3 maximum diameter vs 2.1 0.6 3T, approaching spatial resolution respective sequences (3T: 64mT: slice thickness). Automated estimates highly correlated (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis bias (mean ml, standard error 5.2 limits agreement -19.0-15.9 ml), which over-estimated low under-estimated high 0.74, Visual inspection revealed over-segmentation was driven venous hyperintensities T2-FLAIR. Lesion size drove segmentation 93% > 1.0 ml all being detected. Using multi-acquisition averaging, we able generate isotropic images device. Overall, our results demonstrate established MS, lesions, correlate measurements scans.