Image Registration in ASL-Perfusion Imaging of Kidney - Impact on Image Quality

Introduction Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is an emerging technique for a more accurate assessment of local renal function [1]. Recent findings on NSF and disease status in certain patient groups permit the application of contrast agents. An alternative approach to non-invasive perfusion quantification is arterial spin labelling (ASL) [2]. However, ASL techniques suffer from low SNR and especially in abdominal imaging, from organ movements, e.g. breathing. In this work, we analyzed the impact of automatic image registration on signal quality and increase of SNR by averaging in ASL kidney perfusion imaging.