[Evaluation of three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state (FSPGR) using ultra magnetic field 3-Tesla MRI for optimal pulse sequences of T1-weighted imaging].
The advantage of the higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3TMRI) contributes to the improvement of spatial and temporal resolution. However, T1-weighted images of the brain obtained by the spin-echo (SE) method at 3T MR are not satisfactory for clinical use because of radiofrequency (RF) field inhomogeneity and prolongation of the longitudinal relaxation time (T1) of most tissues. We evaluated optimal pulse sequences to obtain adequate T1 contrast, high gray matter/white matter contrast, and suitable postcontrast T1-weighted images using the three-dimentional (3D) fast spoiled gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state (FSPGR) method instead of the SE method. For the optimization of T1 contrast, the Ernst angle of the optimal flip angle (FA) was obtained from the T1 value of cerebral white matter with the shortest TR and TE. Then the most appropriate FA, showing the maximum contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and SNR, was obtained by changing the FA every 5 degrees at about the level of the Ernst angle. Image uniformity was evaluated by a phantom showing similar T1 and T2 values of cerebral white matter. In order to evaluate the effect of the contrast enhancement, signal intensity was compared by the same method using a phantom filled with various dilutions of contrast media. Moreover, clinical studies using full (0.1 mmol/kg) and half (0.05 mmol/kg) doses of Gd-DTPA were carried out with the most appropriate parameters of the 3D-FSPGR method. These studies indicated that the optimal pulse sequences for obtaining an adequate T1-weighted image of the brain using 3D-FSPGR are 9/2 msec (TR/TE) and 13 degrees (FA).
Yamashita
Eijiro
E
Department of Radiology, Tottori University Hospital.
Iwata
Naoki
N
Kinoshita
Toshibumi
T
Ogawa
Toshihide
T
Hirata
Yoshiharu
Y
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging