Improved Quantitative Diffusion in Fetal Lungs with Multiecho EPI Distortion and Motion Correction

Motivation: Accurately assessing fetal lung maturity and development with quantitative diffusion parameters could guide critical care for at-risk fetuses, but has been severely limited by artifacts. Goal(s): Develop an MRI technique to enable reliable diffusion imaging of fetal lungs. Approach: Investigated a multi-echo spin echo sequence to provide motion/distortion correction. Results: The technique improved lung analysis, in particular, resulting in more consistent ADC fitting. The method also increased the geometric fidelity of the diffusion image with structural images. Impact: This work demonstrates a novel MRI technique to enable reliable diffusion imaging of fetal lungs, overcoming current barriers of motion and artifacts. Improving lung maturity assessment during pregnancy has the potential to transform care for at-risk fetuses through earlier interventions.