DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED MRI WITH ENHANCEMENT FACTOR NORMALIZED BY PROTON DENSITY WEIGHTED SIGNAL

摘要

A method, apparatus, and computer program for obtaining MRI data representative of the concentration of a contrast agent at a plurality of locations within a region of interest of a subject. A proton density weighted scan of said region is performed to obtain a proton density weighted signal value SPD for each said location. A first T1 weighted scan of said region is performed, before administration of a contrast agent, to obtain a pre-enhancement signal value SPRE for each said location. After administration of a contrast agent is commenced, one or more second T1 weighted scans of said region are performed, to obtain a post-enhancement signal value SPOST for each said location, for each of said one or more second T1 weighted scans. The value of an enhancement ratio ERPD for each said location and for each of said one or more second T1 weighted scans is calculated according to the formula : ERPD = (SPOST - SPRE) / SPD to obtain a value representative of the concentration of contrast agent present at that location at the time the respective second T1 weighted scan is performed.