Combined Preclinical Magnetic Particle Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Initial Results in Mice Kombiniertes präklinisches Magnetic Particle Imaging und Magnetresonanztomografie: erste Ergebnisse in der Maus

" magnetic particle imaging ● " MR imaging ● " superparamagnetic iron oxide ● " preclinical " workflow ● " co-registration Abstract ! Purpose: Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a new radiologic imaging modality. For the first time, a commercial preclinical scanner is instal- led. The goal of this study was to establish a workflow between MPI and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners for a complete in vivo examination of a mouse and to generate the first co-registered in vivo MR-MP images. Materials and Methods: The in vivo examination of five mice were performed on a preclinical MPI scanner and a 7 Tesla preclinical MRI system. MRI measurements were used for anatomical re- ferencing and validation of the injection of su- perparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles dur- ing a dynamic MPI scan. We extracted MPI data of the injection phase and co-registered it with MRI data. Results: A workflow process for a combined in vivo MRI and MPI examination was established. A suc- cessful injection of ferucarbotran was proven in MPI and MRI. MR-MPI co-registration allocated the SPIOs in the inferior vena cava and the heart during and shortly after the injection. Conclusion: The acquisition of preclinical MPI and MRI data is feasible and allows the combined a- nalysis of MR-MPI information.