Strain tensor imaging using single-shot multi-slice DENSE in a pediatric population at 7T

Motivation: DENSE can provide information about the brain pulsations that likely reflect the condition of blood vessels, which may deteriorate following treatment in pediatric brain tumors. Goal(s): The goal of this study is to perform an initial analysis of this single-shot multi-slice DENSE data in a pediatric population to study the robustness of this sequence during motion. Approach: By using a single-shot multi-slice DENSE sequence, brain motion maps were acquired from which strain maps could be derived on a voxel-wise level. Results: Even though the pediatric participants moved during the MR-acquisition, good quality strain maps were obtained with the expected patterns (as in adults). Impact: Single-shot strain tensor imaging allows evaluation of cardiac-related brain tissue strain, in a pediatric cohort of posterior fossa tumor, despite the presence of unwanted head motion. This enables investigating strain as potential new biomarker of neurovascular integrity in patients.