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Rapid gradient‐echo imaging
Author(s) -
Hargreaves Brian
Publication year - 2012
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.23742
Subject(s) - gradient echo , echo (communications protocol) , nuclear magnetic resonance , magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , radiology , computer science , physics , computer network
Gradient‐echo sequences are widely used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for numerous applications ranging from angiography to perfusion to functional MRI. Compared with spin‐echo techniques, the very short repetition times of gradient‐echo methods enable very rapid 2D and 3D imaging, but also lead to complicated “steady states.” Signal and contrast behavior can be described graphically and mathematically, and depends strongly on the type of spoiling: fully balanced (no spoiling), gradient spoiling, or radiofrequency (RF)‐spoiling. These spoiling options trade off between high signal and pure T 1 contrast, while the flip angle also affects image contrast in all cases, both of which can be demonstrated theoretically and in image examples. As with spin‐echo sequences, magnetization preparation can be added to gradient‐echo sequences to alter image contrast. Gradient‐echo sequences are widely used for numerous applications such as 3D perfusion imaging, functional MRI, cardiac imaging, and MR angiography. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012; 36:1300–1313. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.