Dynamic Echo-Planar MR Imaging of the Diaphragm for a 3D Dynamic Analysis

Stéphane Craighero (1, 2) , Emmanuel Promayon (1) , Pierre Baconnier (1) , Jean-François Lebas (2) , Max Coulomb (2)

1 TIMC-IMAG - Techniques de l'Ingénierie Médicale et de la Complexité - Informatique, Mathématiques et Applications, Grenoble - UMR 5525
2 Service central de radiologie et d'imagerie médicale

Objective: To prove the feasibility of 3D reconstructions of the diaphragm during respiratory cycle, using EPI sequences. Materials and Methods: EPI acquisition, 270 ms/image, on a healthy subject breathing spontaneously and at 0.1Hz. Continuously recorded respiratory signal allowed for retrospective synchronization with respiratory phases for reconstruction of successive diaphragm surfaces using a specifically designed software. Displacements, area and volume changes of the diaphragm were quantified. Results: Our measurements were comparable with literature data. Reconstructed surfaces allowed in vivo diaphragm dynamics evaluation, in terms of displacements, area and volume variations. Conclusion: EPI has adequate spatial and temporal resolution for studying diaphragm dynamics during natural breathing.

Mots clés: Diaphragm; 3-D imaging; image reconstruction; Dynamic EPI; MRI; segmentation

Domaines: Traitement des images [eess.IV]; Pneumologie et système respiratoire; Imagerie; Modélisation et simulation

Stéphane Craighero, Emmanuel Promayon, Pierre Baconnier, Jean-François Lebas, Max Coulomb. Dynamic Echo-Planar MR Imaging of the Diaphragm for a 3D Dynamic Analysis. European Radiology, 2005, 15 (4), pp.742-748. ⟨10.1007/s00330-004-2482-2⟩. ⟨hal-00306711⟩