3D MR Fingerprinting for Prostate at 0.55 T

Motivation: 0.55 T MRI scanners have lower fields inhomogeneities and bigger bore size when compared to higher fields, allowing to scan larger body habitus patients, and to perform MRI-guided biopsies. Goal(s): To generate 1x1x3 mm3 T1 and T2 maps of the prostate and T1 and T2 weighted images with improved contrast from MRF at 0.55 T. Approach: We use a 3D MRF-FISP sequence with Stack of Spirals acquisition and a low-rank denoising method. Results: We show T1 and T2 maps and T1 and T2 weighted images and report on values for the prostate NPZ and NTZ of 5 subjects and for a biopsy-confirmed lesion. Impact: Implementing prostate MR Fingerprinting at 0.55 T, allows multiparametric quantitative assessment of the gland while gaining advantages that 0.55 T scanners offer respect to higher field ones. This includes lower fields inhomogeneities, bigger bore size and a lower equipment cost.