Motion-Robust Multiparametric MRI of the Liver at 3T: Simultaneous Estimation of Water-Specific T1, PDFF, Motion-Resolved R2*, and QSM

Motivation: Quantitative multiparametric MRI has the potential to improve the characterization of liver diseases, but its clinical implementation is limited by challenges such as respiratory motion and slow imaging speed. Goal(s): To develop a motion-robust multiparametric MRI technique that enables simultaneous estimation of water-specific T1, PDFF, motion-resolved R2*, and QSM of the liver from a single acquisition at 3T. Approach: Our technique employs inversion recovery-prepared golden-angle multi-echo stack-of-stars sampling in combination with advanced low-rank subspace reconstruction for generating different quantitative parameters. Results: Free-breathing multiparametric estimation of 3D water-specific T1, PDFF, R2* and QSM with motion compensation has been successfully demonstrated in volunteers and patients. Impact: This new technique is capable of estimating water-specific T1, PDFF, motion-resolved R2*, and QSM of the liver from a single acquisition at 3T. It holds potential to promote the use of quantitative MRI in moving organs such as the liver.