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. 2013 Dec;33(12):1857-63.
doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2013.141. Epub 2013 Aug 14.

The influence of noise on BOLD-mediated vessel size imaging analysis methods

Michael A Germuska  1 , James A Meakin, Daniel P Bulte
Affiliations

The influence of noise on BOLD-mediated vessel size imaging analysis methods

Michael A Germuska et al. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

Vessel size imaging (VSI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that aims to provide quantitative measurements of tissue microvasculature. An emerging variation of this technique uses the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) effect as the source of the imaging contrast. Gas challenges have the advantage over contrast injection techniques in that they are noninvasive and easily repeatable because of the fast washout of the contrast. However, initial results from BOLD-VSI studies are somewhat contradictory, with substantially different estimates of the mean vessel radius. Owing to BOLD-VSI being an emerging technique, there is not yet a standard processing methodology, and different techniques have been used to calculate the mean vessel radius and reject uncertain estimates. In addition, the acquisition methodology and signal modeling vary from group to group. Owing to these differences, it is difficult to determine the source of this variation. Here we use computer modeling to assess the impact of noise on the accuracy and precision of different BOLD-VSI calculations. Our results show both potential overestimates and underestimates of the mean vessel radius, which is confirmed with a validation study at 3T.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Modeled relationship between mean vessel radius (μm) and the vessel size index, q. Modeled at 3T (A) and 7T (B) for susceptibility changes −0.05 to −0.3 p.p.m.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Modeled probability density estimates of vessel radii for each analysis method at 3T with an assumed vessel distribution (true distribution). Modeled data derived from 6 mm full width at half maximum smoothed data sets and susceptibility changes −0.05 and −0.3 p.p.m. Ordinary least squares analysis (A), total least squares (B), plateau analysis (C), and plateau analysis with t-test (D).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Example mean vessel caliber estimates (μm) from an individual subject. The same slice is shown analyzed with each of the investigated methodologies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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