Rapid, High-resolution and Distortion-free R 2 * Mapping of Fetal Brain using Multi-echo Radial FLASH and Model-based Reconstruction.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To develop a rapid, high-resolution and distortion-free technique for simultaneous water-fat separation, R2* and B0 mapping of the fetal brain at 3T.

Methods

A 2D multi-echo radial FLASH sequence with blip gradients is adapted for data acquisition during maternal free breathing. A calibrationless model-based reconstruction with sparsity constraints is developed to jointly estimate water, fat, R2* and B0 field maps directly from k-space. This approach was validated and compared to reference methods using numerical and NIST phantoms and data from nine fetuses between 26 and 36 weeks of gestation age.

Results

Both numerical and experimental phantom studies confirm good accuracy and precision. In fetal studies, model-based reconstruction yields quantitative R2* va

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11722525 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature