title: Clinical comparison of three-dimensional MP-RAGE and FLASH techniques for MR imaging of the head.
abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) MP-RAGE (magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo) imaging was evaluated as a high-resolution 3D T1-weighted brain imaging technique for patients with suspected neurologic disease. Fourteen patients were studied. In five, 3D MP-RAGE images were compared with 3D FLASH (fast low-angle shot) images. Signal difference--to-noise ratios and T1 contrast were not statistically different for 3D MP-RAGE images as opposed to 3D FLASH images. Advantages intrinsic to the application of 3D MP-RAGE sequences include decreased imaging time and decreased motion artifact. With this technique, it is possible to perform a relatively motion-insensitive, T1-weighted screening brain study with voxel resolution of 1.0 x 1.4 x 2.0 mm or smaller, in an imaging time of 5.9 minutes or less--permitting offline (poststudy) reconstruction of high-resolution images in any desired plane.
authors.affiliation: Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536-0084.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Runge
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mugler
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*