Diffusion MRI measurements in challenging head and brain regions via cross-term spatiotemporally encoding

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel diffusion MRI technique using cross-term spatiotemporal encoding (xSPEN) that enables imaging in challenging brain regions like the eyes and optic nerves, overcoming traditional limitations due to field inhomogeneities.

Contribution

It develops a new diffusion-weighted imaging scheme based on xSPEN, allowing reliable imaging in difficult-to-access brain areas by leveraging intrinsic diffusion effects.

Findings

Successful diffusion mapping in challenging brain regions at 3T

Demonstrated robustness of xSPEN in inhomogeneous fields

Potential for imaging other body regions

Abstract

Cross-term spatiotemporal encoding (xSPEN) is a recently introduced imaging approach delivering single-scan 2D NMR images with unprecedented resilience to field inhomogeneities. The method relies on performing a pre-acquisition encoding and a subsequent image read out while using the disturbing frequency inhomogeneities as part of the image formation processes, rather than as artifacts to be overwhelmed by the application of external gradients. This study introduces the use of this new single-shot MRI technique as a diffusion-monitoring tool, for accessing regions that have hitherto been unapproachable by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) methods. In order to achieve this, xSPEN MRIs intrinsic diffusion weighting effects are formulated using a customized, spatially-localized b-matrix analysis; with this, we devise a novel diffusion-weighting scheme that both exploits and overcomes xSPENs strong intrinsic weighting effects. The ability to provide reliable and robust diffusion maps in challenging head and brain regions, including the eyes and the optic nerves, is thus demonstrated in humans at 3T; new avenues for imaging other body regions are also briefly discussed.