Non-rigid motion-compensated MR Multitasking for free-breathing low-dose dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in the abdomen

Motivation: Efficient image models are needed to enable low-dose, free-breathing quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging in the abdomen. Goal(s): Integrate non-rigid motion compensation (MoCo) into the MR Multitasking framework and evaluate its impact on low-dose, free-breathing abdominal DCE. Approach: Non-rigid MoCo was incorporated into MR Multitasking by directly applying motion fields to eigenimages. This was tested on n=5 healthy volunteers who received 0.02 mmol/kg Gd, only 20% of the standard dose. Results: Non-rigid MoCo of eigenimages was compatible with MR Multitasking. MoCo more efficiently modeled respiratory motion and minimized intra-bin motion, demonstrating potential for improved DCE quantification. Impact: Non-rigid motion compensation reduces intra-bin respiratory motion in low-dose free-breathing, whole-abdomen quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR Multitasking. Low-dose quantitative DCE may benefit longitudinal monitoring of neoadjuvant treatment in patients with borderline resectable/locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.