Image-Based Weighted B0 Shimming using a Fast Multi-Echo DIXON Technique: Feasibility for Abdominal Imaging

Arjan Willem Simonetti¹, Gabriele Beck¹, Hans Hoogduin², Jeroen C. W. Siero³, Gwenael Herigault⁴

Clinically acceptable fat suppression is a key element in abdominal MRI. B0 homogeneity plays an important role in achieving fat suppression, but is not always optimal using standard spectral-based B0 shimming approaches. We propose a new method that combines mDIXON and image-based weighted B0 shimming to achieve optimal fat suppression. mDIXON allows to generate 3D B0 maps as well as water and fat images which, when automatically segmented, can be used to tailor the cost function method employed in our shimming approach. Our results show that this method improves significantly fat suppression without impact on examination workflow and duration.