The Compressed Sensing MP2RAGE as a Surrogate to the MPRAGE for Neuroimaging at 3 T

The magnetization-prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient echo (MP2RAGE) sequence provides quantitative T(1) maps in addition to high-contrast morphological images. Advanced acceleration techniques such as compressed sensing (CS) allow its acquisition time to be compatible with clinical applications. To consider its routine use in future neuroimaging protocols, the repeatability of the segmented brain structures was evaluated and compared with the standard morphological sequence (magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo [MPRAGE]). The repeatability of the T(1) measurements was also assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen healthy volunteers were scanned either 3 or 4 times at several days of interval, on a 3 T clinical scanner, with the 2 sequences (CS-MP2RAGE and MPRAGE), set with the same spatial resolution (0.8-mm isotropic) and scan duration (6 minutes 21 seconds). The reconstruction time of the CS-MP2RAGE outputs (including the 2 echo images, the MP2RAGE image, and the T(1) map) was 3 minutes 33 seconds, using an open-source in-house algorithm implemented in the Gadgetron framework. Both precision and variability of volume measurements obtained from CAT12 and VolBrain were assessed. The T(1) accuracy and repeatability were measured on phantoms and on humans and were compared with literature. Volumes obtained from the CS-MP2RAGE and the MPRAGE images were compared using Student t tests (P < 0.05 was considered significant). RESULTS: The CS-MP2RAGE acquisition provided morphological images of the same quality and higher contrasts than the standard MPRAGE images. Similar intravolunteer variabilities were obtained with the CS-MP2RAGE and the MPRAGE segmentations. In addition, high-resolution T(1) maps were obtained from the CS-MP2RAGE. T(1) times of white and gray matters and several deep gray nuclei are consistent with the literature and show very low variability (<1%). CONCLUSIONS: The CS-MP2RAGE can be used in future protocols to rapidly obtain morphological images and quantitative T(1) maps in 3-dimensions while maintaining high repeatability in volumetry and relaxation times.