Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Motivation: Most MR methods for quantifying microvascular properties involve the injection of exogenous contrast agents (CA). Goal(s): We propose an innovative MRI method that simultaneously maps the deoxygenated cerebral blood volume (CBV), microvascular geometry (averaged vessel radius), and relaxometry (T1T2) without CA injection. Approach: Acquisitions are made using a multi-echo, phase-cycled, bSSFP-sequence acquired in transient and pseudo-steady-state regimes. Reconstruction of the maps is made under the MRFingerprinting framework using realistic 3D microvessel representations. Magnetic field distributions (B1B0) are also taken into account. Results: Preliminary results on five healthy volunteers are in line with previous measurements made with MRF and PWI with gadolinium injection. Impact: We propose a contrast-free quantification technique of microvascular properties and relaxation times. It could be useful for functional experiments as well as clinical investigations of several cerebrovascular pathologies including stroke and cancer.
Coudert et al. (Tue,) studied this question.