QSMxT

QSMxT implements end-to-end processing and analysis of Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) data derived from gradient-echo phase imaging to improve the accuracy and reliability of susceptibility estimations.

Key Features:

• Robust Masking Technique: Automatically differentiates reliable and less reliable phase regions to delineate areas with dependable phase signals for susceptibility estimation.
• Two-Pass Reconstruction Procedure: Processes separated sources independently in a two-pass reconstruction and combines them to extract additional information while minimizing artefacts from unreliable phase regions and high dynamic range susceptibility sources.
• Artefact Reduction: Reduces streaking artefacts caused by unreliable phase signals, preserving enhanced anatomical detail.
• Minimal Parameter Tuning and Anatomical Priors: Operates without reliance on extensive parameter tuning or anatomical priors.

Scientific Applications:

• 3 Tesla datasets: Validated on 3 Tesla (T) acquisitions including healthy volunteers and phantoms.
• 7 Tesla tumor imaging: Applied to 7 T datasets from tumor patients.
• Simulated data benchmarking: Validated using the QSM challenge 2.0 simulated brain dataset.
• Brain susceptibility studies: Applicable to research requiring precise susceptibility mapping and reduced artefacts in brain imaging.

Methodology:

Applies advanced masking techniques to separate reliable and less reliable phase regions, then performs a two-pass reconstruction that processes separated sources independently before combining them.