title: Fundamentals of balanced steady state free precession MRI.
abstract: Balanced steady state free precession (balanced SSFP) has become increasingly popular for research and clinical applications, offering a very high signal-to-noise ratio and a T2 /T1 -weighted image contrast. This review article gives an overview on the basic principles of this fast imaging technique as well as possibilities for contrast modification. The first part focuses on the fundamental principles of balanced SSFP signal formation in the transient phase and in the steady state. In the second part, balanced SSFP imaging, contrast, and basic mechanisms for contrast modification are revisited and contemporary clinical applications are discussed.
authors: Division of Radiological Physics, Department of Radiology, University of Basel Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Bieri
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Scheffler
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
keywords: contrast; preparation; steady state; transient phase