Scientific Concept of the National Cohort (status ... - Nationale Kohorte

A.3
A.3 Study design
6. Since being introduced into clinical routine, MRI technology and application have
changed dramatically; these very short development cycles in imaging technology
must be accounted for in selecting appropriate up-to-date sequences and scanner
technology. Considering the life-cycle of the scanners integrated in the National Cohort
and to avoid inconsistencies in image quality, the latest generation of MRI scanners
will be used.
Therefore, although higher in cost, a 3-Tesla system, which offers higher spatial resolution
with higher diagnostic accuracy and faster image acquisition than 1.5-Tesla, is planned to
be used at all imaging sites. In addition, scanners that offer semi-automated scanning processes
are highly desirable to obtain a high level of standardization.
Proposed MRI imaging protocol
Table 3.9: Proposed basic whole-body MRI protocol§
Sequence Duration (min) Phenotypic measures
T2w FLAIR cor 2:30
Brain / neurodegenerative
Chronic vascular changes, gliosis / sclerosis
DTI ax 8:00 Microstructure, tractography
SWI ax 2:30 Microbleeds, vascular malformations, amyloid angiopathy
3D MPRAGE T1-w 5:00 Morphology, atrophy, volumetry
SUBTOTAL TIME 18:00
Cardiovascular
Noncontrast-enhanced
WB MRA (TimCT)
3:00 Carotid, renal, aortic, mesenteric vascular disease, PAOD
Fat saturated T1-w, PD-,
T2-w
short-axis-, 2-, 3-, 4- CV
breathhold multislice
trueFISP, T-SENSE
5:00 Carotid plaque imaging
5:00
TrueFISP 0:30 Aortic distensibility
Cardiac function: regional and global LV and RV function,
ESV, EDV, myocardial mass, EF, atrial volumes and
function, DDF
Valve flow quantification 2:00 Assessment of aortic and mitral valve
3D time-of-flight
angiography (3D TOF
MRA)
SUBTOTAL TIME 18:00
3D-HR-PD hip 6:00
WB STIR ax (TimCT) 3:00
2:30 Arterial vasculature brain
Musculoskeletal
T2 TSE sag 3:00 Spine, disks, vertebral fx
SUBTOTAL TIME 12:00
Hip: Degenerative joint disease + inguinal lymph nodes
measurement
MSK: inflammatory joint disease (incl. SI joint), joint
effusions, spondylarthropathy
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