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Application of refocused steady‐state free‐precession methods at 1.5 and 3 T to in vivo high‐resolution MRI of trabecular bone: Simulations and experiments
Author(s) -
Banerjee Suchandrima,
Han Eric T.,
Krug Roland,
Newitt David C.,
Majumdar Sharmila
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.20348
Subject(s) - steady state free precession imaging , gradient echo , precession , nuclear medicine , nuclear magnetic resonance , scanner , physics , image quality , high resolution , magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , computer science , geology , radiology , optics , artificial intelligence , image (mathematics) , remote sensing , astronomy
Purpose To evaluate the potential of fully‐balanced steady‐state free‐precession (SSFP) sequences in in vivo high‐resolution (HR) MRI of trabecular bone at field strengths of 1.5 and 3 T by simulation and experimental methods. Materials and Methods Using simulation studies, refocused SSFP acquisition was optimized for our imaging purposes with a focus on signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and SNR efficiency. The signal behavior in trabecular bone was estimated using a magnetostatic model of the trabecular bone and marrow. Eight normal volunteers were imaged at the proximal femur, calcaneus, and the distal tibia on a GE Signa scanner at 1.5 and at 3 T with an optimized single‐acquisition SSFP sequence (three‐dimensional FIESTA) and an optimized multiple‐acquisition SSFP sequence (three‐dimensional FIESTA‐c). Images were also acquired with a fast gradient echo (FGRE) sequence for evaluation of the SNR performance of SSFP methods. Results Refocused SSFP images outperformed FGRE acquisitions in both SNR and SNR efficiency at both field strengths. At 3 T, susceptibility effects were visible in FIESTA and FGRE images and much reduced in FIESTA‐c images. The magnitude of SNR boost at 3 T was closely predicted by simulations. Conclusion Single‐acquisition SSFP (at 1.5 T) and multiple‐acquisition SSFP (at 3 T) hold great potential for HR‐MRI of trabecular bone. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;21:818–825. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.