Modified dixon-based renal dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI facilitates automated registration and perfusion analysis

Purpose: Renal dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI provides information on renal perfusion and filtration. However, clinical implementation is hampered by challenges in postprocessing as a result of misalignment of the kidneys due to respiration. We propose to perform automated image registration using the fat-only images derived from a modified Dixon reconstruction of a dual-echo acquisition because these provide consistent contrast over the dynamic series. Methods: DCE data of 10 hypertensive patients was used. Dual-echo images were acquired at 1.5 T with temporal resolution of 3.9 s during contrast agent injection. Dixon fat, water, and in-phase and opposed-phase (OP) images were reconstructed. Postprocessing was automated. Registration was performed both to fat images and OP images for comparison. Perfusion and filtration values were extracted from a two-compartment model fit. Results: Automatic registration to fat images performed better than automatic registration to OP images with visible contrast enhancement. Median vertical misalignment of the kidneys was 14 mm prior to registration, compared to 3 mm and 5 mm with registration to fat images and OP images, respectively (P = 0.03). Mean perfusion values and MR-based glomerular filtration rates (GFR) were 233 ± 64 mL/100 mL/min and 60 ± 36 mL/minute, respectively, based on fat-registered images. MR-based GFR correlated with creatinine-based GFR (P = 0.04) for fat-registered images. For unregistered and OP-registered images, this correlation was not significant. Conclusion: Absence of contrast changes on Dixon fat images improves registration in renal DCE MRI and enables automated postprocessing, resulting in a more accurate estimation of GFR. Magn Reson Med 80:66–76, 2018.