Time-efficient Relaxation-Incorporated IVIM Diffusion Imaging

Overestimation of perfusion volume fraction has been reported in conventional IVIM imaging. In a model known as extended T2-IVIM, compartmentalized relaxation times are incorporated to improve quantification of perfusion volume fraction, which requires acquisition of additional images at different TEs. A main challenge is that the scan time is lengthened, decreasing the efficiency while increasing vulnerability to motion. We herein introduce a novel sequence for time-efficient, relaxation-incorporated (TERI) IVIM imaging to address the aforementioned issues. TERI IVIM imaging uses multiple EPI readouts at different TEs in a single shot. The proposed technique has been demonstrated in the human brain.