Myo-regressor Deep Informed Neural NetwOrk (Myo-DINO) for fast MR parameters mapping in neuromuscular disorders

Magnetic Resonance (MR) parameters mapping in muscle Magnetic Resonance Imaging (mMRI) is predominantly performed using pattern recognition-based algorithms, which are characterised by high computational costs and scalability issues in the context of multi-parametric mapping.

Deep Learning (DL) has been demonstrated to be a robust and efficient method for rapid MR parameters mapping. However, its application in mMRI domain to investigate Neuromuscular Disorders (NMDs) has not yet been explored. In addition, data-driven DL models suffered in interpretation and explainability of the learning process. We developed a Physics Informed Neural Network called Myo-Regressor Deep Informed Neural NetwOrk (Myo-DINO) for efficient and explainable Fat Fraction (FF), water-T₂ (wT₂) and B1 mapping from a cohort of NMDs.A total of 2165 slices (232 subjects) from Multi-Echo Spin Echo (MESE) images were selected as the input dataset for which FF, wT₂,B1 ground truth maps were computed using the MyoQMRI toolbox. This toolbox exploits the Extended Phase Graph (EPG) theory with a two-component model (water and fat signal) and slice profile to simulate the signal evolution in the MESE framework. A customized U-Net architecture was implemented as the Myo-DINO architecture. The squared L₂ norm loss was complemented by two distinct physics models to define two ‘Physics-Informed’ loss functions: Cycling Loss 1 embedded a mono-exponential model to describe the relaxation of water protons, while Cycling Loss 2 incorporated the EPG theory with slice profile to model the magnetization dephasing under the effect of gradients and RF pulses. The Myo-DINO was trained with the hyperparameter value of the 'Physics-Informed' component held constant, i.e. λ_model = 1, while different hyperparameter values (λ_cnn) were applied to the squared L₂ norm component in both the cycling loss. In particular, hard (λ_cnn=10), normal (λ_cnn=1) and self-supervised (λ_cnn=0) constraints were applied to gradually decrease the impact of the squared L₂ norm component on the ‘Physics Informed’ term during the Myo-DINO training process.

Myo-DINO achieved higher performance with Cycling Loss 2 for FF, wT₂ and B1 prediction. In particular, high reconstruction similarity and quality (Structural Similarity Index > 0.92, Peak Signal to Noise ratio > 30.0 db) and small reconstruction error (Normalized Root Mean Squared Error < 0.038) to the reference maps were shown with self-supervised weighting of the Cycling Loss 2. In addition muscle-wise FF, wT₂ and B1 predicted values showed good agreement with the reference values. The Myo-DINO has been demonstrated to be a robust and efficient workflow for MR parameters mapping in the context of mMRI. This provides preliminary evidence that it can be an effective alternative to the reference post-processing algorithm. In addition, our results demonstrate that Cycling Loss 2, which incorporates the Extended Phase Graph (EPG) model, provides the most robust and relevant physical constraints for Myo-DINO in this multi-parameter regression task. The use of Cycling Loss 2 with self-supervised constraint improved the explainability of the learning process because the network acquired domain knowledge solely in accordance with the assumptions of the EPG model.