3D motion corrected free-breathing SMS-bSSFP myocardium perfusion imaging

• Published in: Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance p. 101897
• Main Authors: Adam, Naledi, Mooiweer, Ronald, Tyler, Andrew, Kunze, Karl, Neji, Radhouene, Speier, Peter, Stäb, Daniel, Ng, John, Kuriakose, Shino, Razavi, Reza, Nazir, Muhummad Sohaib, Chiribiri, Amedeo, Roujol, Sébastien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 21.04.2025
• ISSN: 1532-429X; 1532-429X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocmr.2025.101897

To develop a 3D motion-corrected simultaneous multislice (SMS)-bSSFP acquisition to enable free-breathing myocardial perfusion with high spatial resolution and coverage.BACKGROUNDTo develop a 3D motion-corrected simultaneous multislice (SMS)-bSSFP acquisition to enable free-breathing myocardial perfusion with high spatial resolution and coverage.A fast diaphragmatic respiratory navigator (fastNAV) module (<15ms) was implemented into a SMS-bSSFP sequence for prospective slice-tracking. The remaining 2D in-plane motion was corrected using inline image registration. This approach (SMS-fastNAV) was compared to a reference SMS perfusion with 2D in-plane motion correction only (SMS-Ref) in 10 patients at 1.5T. Each subject underwent both perfusion protocols (6 slices, resolution: 1.9×1.9mm2) in a random order. The residual motion of the left ventricular (LV) was assessed by measuring the average DICE coefficient of the LV (avDICE) and the average displacement of the LV centre of mass location (avCOM). Subjective assessment of image quality was also performed.METHODSA fast diaphragmatic respiratory navigator (fastNAV) module (<15ms) was implemented into a SMS-bSSFP sequence for prospective slice-tracking. The remaining 2D in-plane motion was corrected using inline image registration. This approach (SMS-fastNAV) was compared to a reference SMS perfusion with 2D in-plane motion correction only (SMS-Ref) in 10 patients at 1.5T. Each subject underwent both perfusion protocols (6 slices, resolution: 1.9×1.9mm2) in a random order. The residual motion of the left ventricular (LV) was assessed by measuring the average DICE coefficient of the LV (avDICE) and the average displacement of the LV centre of mass location (avCOM). Subjective assessment of image quality was also performed.SMS-fastNAV led to lower residual LV motion than SMS-Ref before non-rigid image registration as shown by a higher avDICE (0.93±0.02 vs. 0.89±0.04, p<0.002) and decreased avCOM (2.82±0.89mm vs. 4.23±1.29mm, p=0.005). After non-rigid image registration, SMS-fastNAV also led to higher avDICE score (0.95±0.01 vs. 0.94±0.02, p<0.027) and tended to decrease avCOM (0.97±0.21mm vs. 1.01±0.25mm, p=0.23) with respect to SMS-Ref, suggesting a reduction in through-plane motion. There were no statistical significant differences between both approaches in terms of image quality (SMS-fastNAV: 1.79±0.50 vs. SMS-Ref: 2.00±0.59, p=0.172).RESULTSSMS-fastNAV led to lower residual LV motion than SMS-Ref before non-rigid image registration as shown by a higher avDICE (0.93±0.02 vs. 0.89±0.04, p<0.002) and decreased avCOM (2.82±0.89mm vs. 4.23±1.29mm, p=0.005). After non-rigid image registration, SMS-fastNAV also led to higher avDICE score (0.95±0.01 vs. 0.94±0.02, p<0.027) and tended to decrease avCOM (0.97±0.21mm vs. 1.01±0.25mm, p=0.23) with respect to SMS-Ref, suggesting a reduction in through-plane motion. There were no statistical significant differences between both approaches in terms of image quality (SMS-fastNAV: 1.79±0.50 vs. SMS-Ref: 2.00±0.59, p=0.172).A 3D motion correction strategy was successfully developed for free-breathing SMS-bSSFP perfusion with high spatial coverage and resolution and provides improved motion correction with respect to standard in-plane image registration only.CONCLUSIONA 3D motion correction strategy was successfully developed for free-breathing SMS-bSSFP perfusion with high spatial coverage and resolution and provides improved motion correction with respect to standard in-plane image registration only.