Snap, Crackle And Pop: Benefits of Serial Motion Compensation in Cardiac Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Motivation: Cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (cDTI) based on spin-echo employs up to 2nd order (M2) motion compensated diffusion gradients. It is unclear whether higher order motion compensation would be beneficial. Goal(s): To evaluate the impact of higher order motion compensation (i.e. velocity, acceleration, jerk, snap, crackle and pop) in cDTI. Approach: Diffusion gradient waveforms with M1 to M6 motion compensation were designed and implemented in a prospective study of healthy volunteers. Mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy maps were quantitatively evaluated. Results: Significant reductions in MD and MD heterogeneity were observed in the M6 relative to M2 compensated data. Impact: We demonstrate the potential importance of compensating for higher orders of motion (>M2) in cardiac diffusion MRI. This work may inform gradient waveform design for more accurate and robust cardiac diffusion MRI.