Correction of Eddy Current Distortions in High B-Value and High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging

Jiancheng Zhuang¹, Zhong-Lin Lu¹, Christine Bouteiller Vidal¹, Hanna Damasio¹

High angular resolution diffusion images are susceptible to distortions caused by eddy currents induced by large diffusion gradients. A new post-acquisition correction algorithm is proposed which does not require any auxiliary reference scans. Image distortion parameters were obtained by image coregistration, performed only between diffusion weighted images with close diffusion gradient orientations. A linear model that describes distortion parameters (translation, scaling, and shear) as a function of diffusion gradient directions was numerically computed to allow individualized distortion correction for every diffusion-weighted image. The method avoids the problematic procedure of cross-correlating images with significantly different contrasts resulting from very different gradient orientations or strengths. Application of the proposed algorithm in high angular resolution diffusion images markedly reduced eddy current distortions, when compared to results obtained with previously published methods.