In-vivo quantitative histology using 0.36-mm MR Fingerprinting: technical development

Motivation: Motivated by the need for high-resolution and accurate MRI imaging in in-vivo histology, this study aims to advance quantitative MRI acquisition to 360-mm isotropic resolution. Goal(s): To achieve precise, robust, and high-quality 0.36-mm MR fingerprinting technique for in-vivo whole-brain quantitative imaging. Approach: The study integrates high-temporal motion correction, rapid and high-quality field inhomogeneity estimation, deep-learning-based spatially-varying denoising, and system correction into a 3D MRF framework, implemented on a high-performance 7T NexGen scanner. Results: This work enables in-vivo T1 and T2 maps with unprecedented 0.36-mm isotropic resolution and the results show successful imaging of fine structures like small nucleus and stria of Gennari. Impact: This work provides a high-quality, motion-robust, and field-inhomogeneity-robust quantitative tool, enabling whole-brain T1 and T2 maps at 0.36-mm resolution, unprecedented for in-vivo quantitative imaging. It makes in-vivo quantitative histology research feasible, providing possibility to quantitative analysis on fine brain structures.