Rapid fat-suppressed isotropic steady-state free precession imaging using true 3D multiple-half-echo projection reconstruction.
Three-dimensional projection reconstruction (3D PR)-based techniques are advantageous for steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging for several reasons, including the capability to achieve short repetition times (TRs). In this paper, a multi-half-echo technique is presented that dramatically improves the data-sampling efficiency of 3D PR sequences while it retains this short-TR capability. The k-space trajectory deviations are measured quickly and corrected on a per-sample point basis. A two-pass RF cycling technique is then applied to the dual-half-echo implementation to generate fat/water-separated images. The resultant improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was demonstrated in volunteer studies. Volumetric images with excellent spatial resolution, coverage, and contrast were obtained with high speed. The non-contrast-enhanced SSFP studies show that this technique has promising potential for MR angiography (MRA).
Lu
Aiming
A
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, E3/311 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-3252, USA. aiming@mr.radiology.wisc.edu
Brodsky
Ethan
E
Grist
Thomas M
TM
Block
Walter F
WF
D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply*