Abstract #4012

Advancing Free-Breathing Liver MRI at 7T with Pseudo-Spiral Cartesian Sampling and Phase-Shimming

Mitra Tavakkoli^1,2, Bobby A. Runderkamp³, Matthijs H.S. de Buck^3,4,5, Michael D. Noseworthy^1,2,6,7, Aart J. Nederveen³, Matthan W.A. Caan⁸, and Wietske van der Zwaag⁴

¹Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, ²Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada, ³Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, ⁴Spinoza Center for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands, ⁵Computational Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, KNAW, Amsterdam, Netherlands, ⁶School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, ⁷Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, ⁸Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Synopsis

Keywords: Liver, Liver, Free-Breathing, Pseudo-Spiral, 7T, Phase-Shimming

Motivation: Ultra-high field (B₀ ≥ 7T) MRI potentially offers high spatial resolution. However, 7T abdominal MRI is challenging due to B₁⁺-inhomogeneities and patients’ breath-holding limits, especially for high-resolution scans.

Goal(s): To develop a high-quality, free-breathing liver scan at 7T.

Approach: We implemented a 3D-GRE with golden-angle pseudo-spiral sampling pattern at 7T, that allowed respiratory binning in a free-breathing acquisition followed by Compressed Sensing reconstruction. Phase-shimming was used to achieve a homogeneous signal intensity over the liver.

Results: We successfully achieved 1.35x1.35x1.35mm³-resolution liver images with high image quality, including signal homogeneity over the entire liver, demonstrating the potential of free-breathing 7T liver MRI.

Impact: This study addresses breath-holding and B₁⁺-inhomogeneity challenges associated with 7T abdominal MRI. It could further the development of non-invasive and detailed liver visualization. Ultimately, this would alter clinical pathways and offer patients a more comfortable imaging experience.

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