Segmented simultaneous multi‐slice diffusion‐weighted imaging with navigated 3D rigid motion correction

Abstract

Purpose To improve the robustness of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) data acquired with segmented simultaneous multi‐slice (SMS) echo‐planar imaging (EPI) against in‐plane and through‐plane rigid motion. Theory and Methods The proposed algorithm incorporates a 3D rigid motion correction and wavelet denoising into the image reconstruction of segmented SMS‐EPI diffusion data. Low‐resolution navigators are used to estimate shot‐specific diffusion phase corruptions and 3D rigid motion parameters through SMS‐to‐volume registration. The shot‐wise rigid motion and phase parameters are integrated into a SENSE‐based full‐volume reconstruction for each diffusion direction. The algorithm is compared to a navigated SMS reconstruction without gross motion correction in simulations and in vivo studies with four‐fold interleaved 3‐SMS diffusion tensor acquisitions. Results Simulations demonstrate high fidelity was achieved in the SMS‐to‐volume registration, with submillimeter registration errors and improved image reconstruction quality. In vivo experiments validate successful artifact reduction in 3D motion‐compromised in vivo scans with a temporal motion resolution of approximately 0.3 s. Conclusion This work demonstrates the feasibility of retrospective 3D rigid motion correction from shot navigators for segmented SMS DWI.

Preliminary results of abdominal simultaneous multi-slice accelerated diffusion-weighted imaging with motion-correction in patients with cystic fibrosis and impaired compliance

“…The simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) acquisition technique was developed to reduce acquisition time by simultaneous excitation and acquisition of multiple slices [ 12 – 16 ]. An additional non-rigid motion correction (Moco) in DWI with SMS technique could optimize image quality [ 17 – 19 ].…”

Motion‐compensated diffusion encoding in multi‐shot human brain acquisitions: Insights using high‐performance gradients

“…[17][18][19][20] More recently, low-rank reconstruction algorithms [21][22][23] were proposed to bypass the explicit phase estimation step, providing better robustness with respect to explicit phase mapping at higher interleaf factors. 24 Additionally, reconstruction models incorporating macroscopic motion between interleaves were developed, [25][26][27][28] as well as strategies for multi-slice diffusion acquisitions. 24,[29][30][31] A drawback of these increasingly complex reconstruction strategies is that the assumed or enforced smoothness of motion-induced phase inherently restricts attainable image accuracy, especially at higher interleaf factors for which undersampling impedes the estimation or inference of phase in each shot.…”

Evaluation of Motion-Corrected Multishot Echo-Planar Imaging as an Alternative to Gradient Recalled-Echo for Blood-Sensitive Imaging

“…Recently developed motion-correction techniques for msEPI use a navigator echo that can reduce motion and phase errors, which are common in patients with acute medical conditions (Fig 1). [2][3][4] In this study, we evaluated a novel 2D interleaved motion-corrected msEPI sequence to determine whether it can be used as a faster technique for blood-sensitive imaging in the emergency department.…”