Accelerating acquisition of readout-segmented echo planar imaging with a simultaneous multi-slice technique for diagnosing knee lesions

Motivation: knee injury is common in clinical practice. DTI enables quantitative assessment of tissue changes in pathological joints, but its clinical application is limited due to prolonged scan time. Goal(s): This study aims to explore the feasibility of using SMS technique in RESOLVE- DTI in knee joint to reduce acquisition time without compromising image quality. Approach: There protocols, Conventional RESOLVE-DTI with 12 directions, and SMS-RESOLVE-DTI with 12 and 20 directions, were used to fully assess the image quality and quantitative parameters. Results: The use of SMS technique greatly reduced the acquisition time without compromise image quality and quantitative evaluation accuracy. Impact: The SMS technique greatly shortens the acquisition time of RESOLVE-DTI and provides similar image quality, allowing clinical doctors to simultaneously evaluate cartilage and ligaments of the knee joint in one scan. SMS-RESOLVE-DTI has high clinical application potential.