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Silent T 2 * and T 2 encoding using ZTE combined with BURST
Author(s) -
Schulte Rolf F.,
Buonincontri Guido,
Costagli Mauro,
Menini Anne,
Wiesinger Florian,
Solana Ana Beatriz
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.27552
Subject(s) - k space , spin echo , image quality , nuclear magnetic resonance , encoding (memory) , echo (communications protocol) , magnetic resonance imaging , physics , fourier transform , computer science , artificial intelligence , image (mathematics) , medicine , computer network , quantum mechanics , radiology
Purpose To obtain T 2 * and T 2 ‐weighted images as well as quantitative T 2 * , T 2 , and susceptibility maps with a novel, silent 3D imaging method, which combines zero‐echo‐time (ZTE) imaging with gradient‐ and spin‐echo BURST encoding. Methods After a segment of standard ZTE encoding with multiple 3D radial k‐space spokes, the direction of traversing k‐space is reversed while excitation is switched off. This recalls gradient echoes for each spoke/excitation. This results in multiple images: one FID image from ZTE and multiple BURST echo images at different echo times weighted by a T 2 * decay. By adding a pair of 180° pulses with an appropriate wait period, it is also possible to obtain spin echoes, leading to T 2 ‐weighted images. Data is reconstructed using standard 3D gridding and Fourier transformation. In vivo feasibility was demonstrated by imaging the brain of multiple healthy volunteers. Results It is possible to acquire high‐quality T 2 * ‐ and T 2 ‐weighted brain images in a silent manner. From images acquired with gradient‐echo ZTE‐BURST, it is possible to extract quantitative T 2 * and magnetic susceptibility maps, whereas the spin echo version yields T 2 maps. Conclusion ZTE combined with BURST enables silent acquisition of T 2 * ‐ and T 2 ‐weighted images with good image quality.