Correction of MR image distortions induced by metallic objects using a 3D cubic B-spline basis set: application to stereotactic surgical planning.
Metallic implants in MRI cause spin-echo (SE) images to be distorted in the slice and frequency-encoding directions. Chang and Fitzpatrick (IEEE Trans Med Imaging 1992;11:319-329) proposed a distortion correction method (termed the CF method) based on the magnitude images from two SE acquisitions that differ only in the polarity of the frequency-encoding and slice-selection gradients. In the present study we solved some problems with the CF method, primarily by modeling the field inhomogeneities as a single 3D displacement field built by 3D cubic B-splines. The 3D displacement field was applied in the actual distortion direction in the slice/frequency-encoding plane. To account for patient head motion, a 3D rigid body motion correction was also incorporated in the model. Experiments on a phantom containing an aneurysm clip showed that the knot spacing between the B-splines is a very important factor in both the final image quality and the processing speed. Depending on the knot spacing and the image volume size, the number of unknowns range from a few thousands to over 100,000, leading to processing times ranging from minutes to days. Optimal knot spacing, a means of increasing the processing speed, and other parameters are investigated and discussed.
Skare
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Karolinska MR Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden. stefan@skare.se
Andersson
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JL
D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008670:Metals; D008954:Models, Biological; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*
D008670:Metals