Multi-Slice Kidney Perfusion Using SE-EPI FAIR: Optimised Acquisition and Analysis Strategies

Alexander Graeme Gardener¹, Susan Tracy Francis¹

Spin-Echo EPI FAIR ASL with parallel imaging acquisition is used to acquire multi-slice perfusion maps of the kidney in less than 3 minutes. The effects of differing breathing strategies (free, respiratory-triggered and breath-hold) are studied and the use of background suppression investigated. The feasibility of image realignment to correct respiratory motion is assessed. It is shown that free breathing and subsequent image realignment provides optimal CNR as well as the paramount strategy for patient comfort. Background suppression is shown to reduced CNR and underestimate perfusion, whilst respiratory triggered acquisition leads to edge effects which cannot be corrected with realignment methods.