A four-dimensional computational model of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging measurement of subtle blood-brain barrier leakage. Link to paper on NeuroImage Authors Jose Bernal, Maria d.C. Valdés-Hernández, Javier Escudero, Anna K. Heye, Eleni Sakka, Paul A. Armitage, Stephen Makin, Rhian M. Touyz, Joanna M. Wardlaw, Michael J. Thrippleton Abstract Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) is increasingly used to quantify & map the spatial distribution of blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage in neurodegenerative disease, including cerebral small vessel disease & dementia. However, the subtle nature of leakage & resulting small signal changes make quantification challenging. While simplified one-dimensional simulations have probed the impact of noise, scanner drift, & model assumptions, the impact of spatio-temporal effects such as gross motion, k-space sampling & motion artefacts on parametric leakage maps has been overlooked. Moreover, evidence on which to base the design of imaging protocols is lacking due to practical difficulties & the lack of a reference method. To address these problems, we present an open-source computational model of the DCE-MRI acquisition process for generating four dimensional Digital Reference Objects (DROs), using a high-resolution brain atlas & incorporating realistic patient motion, extra-cerebral signals, noise & k-space sampling. Simulations using the DROs demonstrated a dominant influence of spatio-temporal effects on both the visual appearance of parameter maps & on measured tissue leakage rates. The computational model permits greater understanding of the sensitivity & limitations of subtle BBB leakage measurement & provides a non-invasive means of testing & optimising imaging protocols for future studies. Keywords Blood-brain barrier permeability Cerebral small vessel disease DCE-MRI Digital reference object Endothelial dysfunction Spatio-temporal imaging artefacts Related links Link to paper on NeuroImage Professor Joanna Wardlaw Dr Michael Thrippleton Dr Maria Valdes Hernandez Dr Eleni Sakka Brain & nervous system Dementia Small vessel disease (SVD) What is a MR scan? Social media tags & titles Featured paper: A four-dimensional computational model of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging measurement of subtle blood-brain barrier leakage. @EdinUniBrainSci @NeuroImage_EiC Publication date 02 Feb, 2021