High-Resolution Free Breathing LGE With Cascaded Compressed Sensing, Automatic Frame Selection and Integrated Motion Correction

Motivation: We noticed that free breathing motion corrected averaged single shot (FB MOCO AVG 1S) SSFP LGE is not as T1-sensitive as segmented breath held (BH) GRE. Goal(s): Therefore, we aimed to create a GRE version of FB MOCO AVG 1S combining the T1-sensitivity of segmented BH GRE with the versatility of FB MOCO AVG 1S. Approach: Compressed sensing (CS) enabled a T1-sensitive GRE readout with high SNR, spatial and temporal resolution traditionally only achievable by SSFP. Results: We created a CS GRE FB MOCO AVG 1S technique with improved sharpness, SNR, and T1-sensitivity compared to existing FB SSFP and equal to BH GRE. Impact: The proposed free breathing compressed sensing GRE LGE technique could enable studying subtle hyperenhancement concurrent with non-ischemic disease, sometimes not picked up by SSFP. Patients unable to breath hold can be included in studies traditionally only feasible with breath holds.