Novel Doppler US-gated 3D fetal whole-heart MRI with motion correction: initial validation using paired phase-contrast flow data

Motivation: A novel pipeline for the creation of 3D fetal whole-heart datasets has been devised by combining Doppler US-gating and slice-to-volume registration. Goal(s): Our goal was to perform initial validation of the resultant 3D+t datasets. Approach: We assessed for internal consistency by deriving fetal stroke volume data from two methods in six subjects. Stroke volume data were obtained through volumetric analysis of the 3D+t volume alongside assessment of paired 2D+t phase-contrast flow data. Results: There was correlation between volumetrically derived stroke-volume data with that derived from 2D+t phase contrast flow, however the volumetric method was biased toward lower readings. Impact: Initial validation of a novel pipeline for the creation 3D fetal whole-heart datasets shows correlation between stroke volumes derived from volumetry and phase contrast flow data. Future work will explore the bias toward lower stroke volumes obtained by volumetry.