Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Improving image quality using the pause function combination to PROPELLER sequence in brain MRI: a phantom study

  • Technical Note
  • Published:
Radiological Physics and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

While some MRI systems offer a “pause” function, combining it with the PROPELLER method for image quality improvement remains underexplored. This study investigated whether repositioning the head after pausing during PROPELLER imaging enhances image quality. All brain phantom images in this study were obtained using a 3.0 T MRI and acquired using the fast spin-echo T2WI-based PROPELLER with motion correction. By combining the angle of rotational motion of the head phantom and the number of repositioning after a pause, two studies including seven trials were performed. Increasing the rotation angle decreased the image quality; however, pausing the image and repositioning the head phantom to the original angle improved the image quality. A similar result was obtained by repositioning the angle closer to its original angle. Experiments with multiple head movements showed that pausing the scan and repositioning the phantom with each movement improved image quality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pipe JG. Motion correction with PROPELLER MRI: application to head motion and free-breathing cardiac imaging. Magn Reson Med. 1999;42:963–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Forbes KP, Pipe JG, Bird CR, Heiserman JE. PROPELLER MRI: clinical testing of a novel technique for quantification and compensation of head motion. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2001;14:215–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Deng J, Miller FH, Salem R, Omary RA, Larson AC. Multishot diffusion-weighted PROPELLER magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen. Invest Radiol. 2006;41:769–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hirokawa Y, Isoda H, Maetani YS, Arizono S, Shimada K, Okada T, et al. Hepatic lesions: improved image quality and detection with the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction technique–evaluation of SPIO-enhanced T2-weighted MR images. Radiology. 2009;251:388–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hirokawa Y, Isoda H, Maetani YS, Arizono S, Shimada K, Togashi K. Evaluation of motion correction effect and image quality with the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) (BLADE) and parallel imaging acquisition technique in the upper abdomen. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2008;28:957–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ohgiya Y, Suyama J, Seino N, Takaya S, Kawahara M, Saiki M, et al. MRI of the neck at 3 Tesla using the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) (BLADE) sequence compared with T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2010;32:1061–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Chou M-C, Huang T-Y, Chung H-W, Hsieh T-J, Chang H-C, Chen C-Y. Q-ball imaging with PROPELLER EPI acquisition. NMR Biomed. 2013;26:1723–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hahn S, Yi J, Lee H-J, Lee Y, Lee J, Wang X, et al. Comparison of deep learning-based reconstruction of PROPELLER Shoulder MRI with conventional reconstruction. Skeletal Radiol. 2023;52:1545–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Niitsu M, Saruya S, Sakaguchi K, Watarai K, Yoneyama M, Katsumata Y, et al. Motion-robust MR imaging of the shoulder using compressed SENSE MultiVane. Eur J Radiol Open. 2022;9: 100450.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Czyzewska D, Sushentsev N, Latoch E, Slough RA, Barrett T. T2-PROPELLER compared to T2-FRFSE for image quality and lesion detection at prostate MRI. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2022;73:355–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Meier-Schroers M, Kukuk G, Homsi R, Skowasch D, Schild HH, Thomas D. MRI of the lung using the PROPELLER technique: artifact reduction, better image quality and improved nodule detection. Eur J Radiol. 2016;85:707–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Forbes KP, Pipe JG, Karis JP, Farthing V, Heiserman JE. Brain imaging in the unsedated pediatric patient: comparison of periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction and single-shot fast spin-echo sequences. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003;24:794–8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Forbes KP, Pipe JG, Karis JP, Heiserman JE. Improved image quality and detection of acute cerebral infarction with PROPELLER diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Radiology. 2002;225:551–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lavdas E, Mavroidis P, Kostopoulos S, Glotsos D, Roka V, Topalzikis T, et al. Improvement of image quality using BLADE sequences in brain MR imaging. Magn Reson Imaging. 2013;31:189–200.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kraus MS, Coblentz AC, Deshpande VS, Peeters JM, Itriago-Leon PM, Chavhan GB. State-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging sequences for pediatric body imaging. Pediatr Radiol. 2023;53:1285–99.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Saju G, Li Z, Mao H, Liu T, Chang Y. Suppressing image blurring of PROPELLER MRI via untrained method. Phys Med Biol. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/acebb1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Saleh M, Virarkar M, Javadi S, Mathew M, Vulasala SSR, Son JB, et al. A feasibility study on deep learning reconstruction to improve image quality with PROPELLER acquisition in the setting of T2-weighted gynecologic pelvic magnetic resonance imaging. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1097/RCT.0000000000001491.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Liu Z, Zhang Z, Ying K, Yuan C, Guo H. Improved motion correction in PROPELLER by using grouped blades as reference. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2014;39:700–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pipe JG, Gibbs WN, Li Z, Karis JP, Schar M, Zwart NR. Revised motion estimation algorithm for PROPELLER MRI. Magn Reson Med. 2014;72:430–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Tamhane AA, Arfanakis K. Motion correction in periodically-rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) and turboprop MRI. Magn Reson Med. 2009;62:174–82.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. GEHealthCare [Internet]. Accessed 25 Aug 2023. https://www.gecares.com/s/?language=en_US

  22. Saotome K, Matsushita A, Matsumoto K, Kato Y, Nakai K, Murata K, et al. A brain phantom for motion-corrected PROPELLER showing image contrast and construction similar to those of in vivo MRI. Magn Reson Imaging. 2017;36:32–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kim HG, Choi JW, Yoon SH, Lee S. Image quality assessment of silent T2 PROPELLER sequence for brain imaging in infants. Br J Radiol. 2018;91:20170680.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. AfBurén S, Kits A, Lönn L, De Luca F, Sprenger T, Skare S, et al. A 78 seconds complete brain MRI examination in ischemic stroke: a prospective cohort study. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2022;56:884–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Oura D, Gekka M, Morishima Y, Niiya Y, Ihara R, Ebina T, et al. Simultaneous depiction of clot and MRA using 1 min phase contrast angiography in acute ischemic patients. Magn Reson Imaging. 2022;93:149–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kubota Y, Yokota H, Sakai T, Yoneyama M, Ohira K, Uno T. Clinical feasibility of single-shot fluid-attenuated inversion recovery with wide inversion recovery pulse designed to reduce cerebrospinal fluid and motion artifacts for evaluation of uncooperative patients in acute stroke protocol. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2021;53:1833–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Ms. Kanae Moriyama and Mr. Kenichi Kazahari (GE Healthcare) for providing information on the PROPELLER technique. We also thank Editage (www.editage.com) for the English language editing.

Funding

This paper is part of the results obtained with the support of JMRTS (Japan Authorizes the Organization of Magnetic Resonance Technological Specialists).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Fukushima Medical University, 10-6 Sakaemachi, Fukushima-shi, Fukushima, 960-8516, Japan

    Kousaku Saotome & Tensho Yamao

  2. Center for Cybernics Research, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan

    Kousaku Saotome

  3. Department of Radiology, Chiba University Hospital, National University Corporation, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba, 260-8677, Japan

    Koji Matsumoto

  4. Diagnostic Imaging Room, Medical Technology Department, Kameda General Hospital, Kamogawa-shi, Chiba, 296-8602, Japan

    Yoshiaki Kato & Motohiro Nagai

  5. Department of Radiology, Meiwa Hospital, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo, 663-8186, Japan

    Yoshihiro Ozaki

  6. Department of Radiological Technology, Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachinaka General Hospital, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki, 312-0057, Japan

    Tomoyuki Hasegawa

  7. Radiological Technology Section, Department of Medical Technology, QST Hospital, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Anagawa-shi, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan

    Hiroki Tsuchiya

Authors
  1. Kousaku Saotome
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Koji Matsumoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yoshiaki Kato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yoshihiro Ozaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Motohiro Nagai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tomoyuki Hasegawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Hiroki Tsuchiya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Tensho Yamao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

KS, KM, and YK contributed to the study design, data collection, phantom set making, algorithm construction, and the writing and editing of the article; YO, NM, TH, and HT carried out the data collection, and the reviewing and editing of the article; TY contributed to the analysis in the image quality assessment; All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kousaku Saotome.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Saotome, K., Matsumoto, K., Kato, Y. et al. Improving image quality using the pause function combination to PROPELLER sequence in brain MRI: a phantom study. Radiol Phys Technol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-024-00784-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-024-00784-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation