Temporal profile block-matching denoising enables free-breathing dynamic 19F lung MRI with sub 0.5 second acquisition time

Motivation: 19F pulmonary MRI is often used to characterize abnormalities in case of cystic fibrosis but its long scan time requires patients to hold their breath, which is uncomfortable and complicates acquisition. Goal(s): We introduce a denoising method to be used with fast 19F imaging that will enable free-breathing dynamic imaging. Approach: 12 subjects underwent both conventional breath-hold and fast free-breathing imaging. Temporal block-matching denoising was done for free-breathing images. Results: Our denoising method enables free-breathing dynamic 19F lung imaging. Images are recovered from the noise floor and show similar characteristics to conventional breath-hold imaging. Impact: Our denoising method enables free-breathing 19F dynamic lung imaging with sub 0.5 second acquisition time. Free-breathing imaging will increase patient comfort and potentially extend ventilation MRI use to more patients, including those with severe lung disease.