Pushing the Limits of ASL Spatiotemporal Resolution using 3D Accelerated Stack-of-Spirals

Motivation: ASL provides a quantitative biomarker of regional brain function and vascular integrity. However, current ASL methods remain hampered by trade-offs in spatial and temporal resolution. Goal(s): Improve the spatiotemporal resolution of ASL through optimized acceleration. Approach: Pseudocontinuous ASL with Stack-of-Spirals 3D TSE readouts were accelerated with ESPRiT compressed-sensing and imaging reconstruction and tested in healthy subjects. Results: Image resolution and quality comparable to highly segmented acquisitions were achieved using single- or two-shot acquisitions across all brain regions, including high-susceptibility regions. Impact: Improved spatial and temporal resolution enables enhanced applications including ASL-based resting-state or task dynamics in high-susceptibility regions.