Innovative FE-DIC for Robust Motion and Intensity Correction in Dynamic CEST-MRI

Motivation: Accurate motion correction of CEST-MRI is challenging due to the coupling effect between motion and intensity variations, which limits the precision of traditional intensity-based registration methods. Goal(s): This study aimed to develop a framework that simultaneously corrects motion and intensity variations, enhancing registration accuracy while preserving intensity information. Approach: We propose an innovative framework based on finite element global digital image correlation (FE-DIC), integrating mechanical regularization and intensity correction techniques to iteratively address the coupling of motion and intensity. Results: Experiments on simulated human liver, clinical brain, and pig cardiac data show that proposed framework outperforms existing methods in reducing residual errors. Impact: The proposed method enhances the reliability and precision of CEST-MRI, facilitating its applications in clinical and research settings.