Real Time Interscan Alignment in the Abdomen Using a Fast Spiral Navigator (ISAN): Initial Results

Gabriele Beck¹, John Penatzer², Vincent Denolin³, Kenneth Coenegrachts⁴, Gwenael Herigault¹

In oncology there is a high interest in investigating suspicious lesions over different MR contrasts. In the abdomen breathing motion and breath hold variations are the main issues that restrict the direct comparison of a lesion across different scans which makes the classification of those lesions more difficult. In this work, prospective interscan alignment using a fast spiral Navigator acquisition allowed for real time adaptation of the scan position and registration of the volume of interest. This allows a direct comparison of lesions across breath hold or free breathing scans within an examination. End expiration triggered and breath held scans show a good consistency over the different contrast scans which were tested. While for inspiration breath holds the large feet head difference in the dome level is corrected, variations in the appearance can be larger in some subjects and can be explained by rotation and deformation of part of volume.