Evaluating simultaneously derived T2, T2*, vCBV and OEF from GE-SE EPIK in brain tumour patients

Motivation: Multi-contrast GE/SE acquisitions provide versatile, simultaneously acquired MR parameters, with fast, non-invasive OEF quantification proving potentially exceptionally valuable in clinical practice. Goal(s): The tumour characterisation capability of 10-echo GE-SE EPIK-derived MR parameters was evaluated in standardised tumour VOIs compared to healthy brain tissue. Approach: A full-brain 2-minute protocol was acquired from 18 tumour patients during hybrid 3T MR and FET-PET acquisitions. Quantified MR parameters were analyzed in tumour VOIs defined by FET-PET. Results: The increased T2/T2* values and decreased vCBV/OEF obtained using 2-minute GE-SE EPIK acquisitions were in agreement with literature values. Impact: Whole-brain T2, T2*, vCBV, and OEF quantification can be obtained within a 2-minute TA using 10-echo GE-SE EPIK MRI, revealing changes in tumour VOIs in agreement with literature values, potentially providing fast clinical access to MR parameters, especially OEF.