Reproducibility of QQ (QSM + qBOLD) Oxygen Extraction Fraction (OEF) Mapping in the Brain at 3 and 1.5 T.
Academic Article
Overview
abstract
PURPOSE: This study aims to assess the repeatability and reproducibility of qBOLD+QSM (QQ) oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) measurements across 3 and 1.5 T. METHODS: The effects of field strength on signal to noise ratio (SNR) and OEF sampling time were experimentally assessed in 14 healthy subjects using repeated scans performed at 3 and 1.5 T. Whole-brain and regional OEF values were analyzed using Bland-Altman and correlation between repeated scans and across field strengths. RESULTS: Whole-brain and regional OEF values showed strong agreement between repeated scans at the same field strength, with minimal differences (≤ 0.74%) and high correlation (r > 0.92). Across field strengths, comparisons similarly showed small mean differences (≤ 1.51%) and strong correlations (r > 0.95). CONCLUSION: QQ-OEF has good repeatability and reproducibility at both 3 and 1.5 T. Good performance at 1.5 T may arise from accurate noise modeling and longer sampling times at lower field strengths.
