Imaging with positive T 1 ‐contrast using superstimulated echoes

This article presents the basic principles of the superstimulated echo mechanism and shows preliminary results of its application to T 1 ‐weighted imaging with positive T 1 ‐contrast. A superstimulated echo scheme uses a preparation of square‐wave modulated, periodically inverted z‐magnetization, which after signal evolution during the mixing time TM is fully converted into transverse magnetization. This avoids the 50% signal loss of a conventional stimulated echo. Furthermore, its implementation as a preparation module for standard turbo spin echo (TSE) imaging allows producing images with positive T 1 ‐contrast. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.