title: Improved time efficiency and accuracy in diffusion tensor microimaging with multiple-echo acquisition.
abstract: In high-field NMR microscopy rapid single-shot imaging methods, for example, echo planar imaging, cannot be used for determination of the apparent diffusion tensor (ADT) due to large magnetic susceptibility effects. We propose a pulse sequence in which a diffusion-weighted spin-echo is followed by multiple gradient-echoes with additional diffusion weighting. These additional echoes can be used to calculate the ADT and T*2 maps. We show here that this results in modest but consistent improvements in the accuracy of ADT determination within a given total data acquisition time. The method is tested on excised, chemically fixed rat spinal cords.
authors.affiliation: Experimentelle Physik 5, Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany. vikas@umich.edu
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gulani
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neuberger
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology*