Comparison of Hemodynamic Visualization in Cerebral Arteries: Can Magnetic Resonance Imaging Replace Computational Fluid Dynamics?

Minh Tri Ngo,Hojin Ha,Ning Jin,Yeong Gon Kwak,Ui Yun Lee,Hyo Sung Kwak,Jinmu Jung,Gyung Ho Chung

doi:10.3390/jpm11040253

Abstract

A multimodality approach was applied using four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI), time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA) signal intensity gradient (SIG), and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate the 3D blood flow characteristics and wall shear stress (WSS) of the cerebral arteries. TOF-MRA and 4D flow MRI were performed on the major cerebral arteries in 16 healthy volunteers (mean age 34.7 ± 7.6 years). The flow rate measured with 4D flow MRI in the internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and anterior cerebral artery were 3.8, 2.5, and 1.2 mL/s, respectively. The 3D blood flow pattern obtained through CFD and 4D flow MRI on the cerebral arteries showed reasonable consensus. CFD delivered much greater resolution than 4D flow MRI. TOF-MRA SIG and CFD WSS of the major cerebral arteries showed reasonable consensus with the locations where the WSS was relatively high. However, the visualizations were very different between TOF-MRA SIG and CFD WSS at the internal carotid artery bifurcations, the anterior cerebral arteries, and the anterior communicating arteries. 4D flow MRI, TOF-MRA SIG, and CFD are complementary methods that can provide additional insight into the hemodynamics of the human cerebral artery.

Highlights

In the 3D blood flow pattern visualized by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and 4D flow MRI in this study, the results identified several differences as the primary limitation in using 4D flow MRI is the spatio-temporal resolution
With a workflow that takes less than 5 min, the present study suggests that time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA) signal intensity gradient (SIG) could provide specific hemodynamic information for each subject
Consistent with previous references, we identified that 4D flow MRI allows a direct and accurate quantification of the velocity magnitudes of the major cerebral arteries

Summary

Introduction

Stroke is ranked as the world’s leading cause of death, with an annual mortality rate of approximately 5.5 million. This places stroke high on the 21st century public health agenda, highlighting its importance in health research [1]. Stroke is a disease affecting the arteries that lead to the brain and those within it [2]. Awareness of the hemodynamics of the human cerebral arteries is essential to better understand the mechanisms underlying disease initiation and progression

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion