Three-Dimensional T1rho Using Spiral Fast Spin Echo

NCT ID: NCT05154656

Last Updated: 2023-09-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: WITHDRAWN
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-06-30

Brief Summary

Liver fibrosis is the main feature in early chronic liver diseases. If identified early, liver fibrosis is reversible. The current gold standard for diagnosing liver fibrosis is invasive liver biopsy. Existing non-invasive methods still have significant limitations.

T1rho imaging is a promising non-invasive technology evaluating liver fibrosis. It does not require exogenous contrast agent or extra hardware. However, it remains challenging to perform T1rho measurements of the liver. The rich blood signal in the liver introduces quantification errors of liver parenchyma. The existing black blood MRI technologies are based on Cartesian FSE acquisitions, which are not optimal for liver imaging. The residual blood signal is often observed which confounds the measurement. Current T1rho measurement of the liver is mostly performed in two-dimension. 3D coverage of liver is desirable. However, 3D T1rho imaging of liver suffers from long scan time due to increased spatial coverage, reduced scan time efficiency from motion compensation, and high specific absorption rate (SAR).

The investigators aim to overcome these challenges by developing 3D T1rho imaging technologies based on magnetization prepared spiral FSE acquisition. Compared to Cartesian FSE, Spiral FSE traverses k-space more efficiently per unit of time, and has reduced SAR due to significantly decreased number of radiofrequency pulses in the echo trains. Spiral acquisition has zero gradient moment at the kspace center, which substantially reduces its sensitivity to respiratory motion. The residual motion manifests as benign incoherent artifacts in the image domain rather than detrimental structured artifacts. Differently to Cartesian FSE, Spiral FSE provides flexibility to design and optimize flow-sensitizing gradients throughout the echo trains to achieve superior suppression of blood signal. The investigators will evaluate the proposed pulse sequences in both healthy controls and patients with liver fibrosis.

This project will provide new black blood imaging technologies and a 3D diagnostic tool for early detection of liver fibrosis. This will improve clinical outcomes for patients with chronic liver disease, and provide a springboard for further development of MRI technology for other purposes.

Conditions

Liver Fibrosis

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

patients with early stage of liver fibrosis

No interventions assigned to this group

subjects with no liver fibrosis

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Between age 18 and age 55
• patients with early liver fibrosis
• Informed written consent obtained

Exclusion Criteria

• Contraindications to MRI such as the presence of metallic implants, claustrophobia and pregnancy

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Chinese University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Chen Weitian

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wale Hospital

Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong

Countries

Hong Kong

Other Identifiers

2018.611

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id