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Abstract #1024

Automated Correction of EPI Geometric Distortions Applied to Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Zaitsev M, Il'yasov K, Hennig J
University Hospital Freiburg

Single shot diffusion weighted EPI is commonly used for DTI. EPI is prone to geometric distortions, which scale with the main magnetic field, causing difficulties in DTI interpretation at 3T and above. Several distortion correction techniques have been proposed; nevertheless none is used routinely, probably because of their limited stability and the need for operator input. Yet, a method of point spread function mapping has proven to perform extremely well for functional MRI. The purpose of this study was to adapt this distortion correction method to DTI and evaluate the effect of the corrections on fibre tracking results.