Abstract
OBJECT: Repeatability and reproducibility are imperative for new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) methods, such as the quantitative technique MR Fingerprinting (MRF), to be clinically adopted for regular patient usage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We tested the repeatability and reproducibility of a new free-breathing (FB) quadratic RF phase Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (qRF-MRF) with Pilot Tone (PT) navigator in the abdominal cavity with a focus on liver by performing repeat scan-rescan collection comparisons for 8 healthy volunteers on 2 different Siemens Vida 3T scanners at the same site running different software versions. RESULTS: Using Bland-Altman analysis, our results for T1, T2, and T2* establish the repeatability and reproducibility, via the limits of agreement and bias estimations, of the FB qRF-MRF sequence and compare to its breath-held qRF-MRF and clinical standard counterparts across scanners and scan conditions. DISCUSSION: Based on the bias and limits of agreement of breath-hold and FB qRF-MRF patients can receive reliable and comparable imaging at different sessions for prognosis and treatment planning.