High-fidelity Four-dimensional Abdominal Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Enabled by SCOPER and Multi-Band acceleration (4D-DW-MB-SCOPER)

Motivation: 4D-DWI can benefit the treatment planning in radiotherapy (RT) because of its high tumor-to-tissue contrast. Both 4D-DW-PROPELLER-EPI and 4D-DW-SCOPER have been proposed but suffer from long acquisition time, thereby limiting clinical applicationsGoal(s): This study aims to develop a new technique to achieve distortion-free 4D-DWI with a practical acquisition time. Approach: 4D-DW-SCOPER and multiband (MB) techniques were combined, termed 4D-DW-MB-SCOPER. In vivo experiments were performed. Results: Results indicate that 4D-DW-MB-SCOPER is feasible for achieving distortion-free 4D-DWI within 7 mins for a coverage of 176 mm in the Superior-Inferior (SI) direction, and has the potential to benefit treatment planning in clinical RT. Impact: The results might offer a new way for clinicians to perform 4D RT planning as well as for patients to have a better treatment outcome. However, the reconstruction time is long for the technique and need to be further investigated.