Jean-David Jutras1, Keith Wachowicz1,2, Guillaume Gilbert3, Nicola De Zanche1,2. 1. Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 2. Department of Medical Physics, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 3. MR Clinical Science, Philips Healthcare Canada, Markham, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
PURPOSE: High-bandwidth bipolar multiecho gradient echo sequences are increasingly popular in structural brain imaging because of reduced water-fat shifts, lower susceptibility effects, and improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) efficiency. In this study, we investigated the performance of three three-dimensional multiecho sequences (MPRAGE, MP2RAGE, and FLASH) with scan times < 9 min and 1-mm isotropic resolution against their single-echo, low-bandwidth counterparts at 3T. We also compared the performance of multiparameter mapping (PD, T1 , and T2*) with bipolar multiecho MP2RAGE versus the variable flip angle technique with multiecho FLASH (VFA-FLASH). METHODS: Multiecho sequences were optimized to yield equivalent contrast and improved SNR compared with their single-echo counterparts. Theoretical SNR gains were verified with measurements in a multilayered phantom. Robust image processing pipelines extracted PD, T1 , and T2* maps from MP2RAGE or VFA-FLASH, and the corresponding SNR was measured with varying SENSE accelerations (R = 1-5) and number of echoes (N = 1-12). All sequences were tested on four healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Multiecho sequences achieved SNR gains of 1.3-1.6 over single-echo sequences. MP2RAGE yielded comparable T1 -to-noise ratio to VFA-FLASH, but significantly lower SNR (<50%) in PD and T2* maps. Measured SNR gains agreed with the theoretical predictions for SENSE accelerations ≤3. CONCLUSION: Multiecho sequences achieve higher SNR efficiency over conventional single-echo sequences, despite three-fold higher sampling bandwidths. VFA-FLASH surpasses MP2RAGE in its ability to map three parameters with high SNR and 1-mm isotropic resolution in a clinically relevant scan time (∼8:30 min), whereas MP2RAGE yields lower intersubject variability in T1 . Magn Reson Med 77:2186-2202, 2017.
PURPOSE: High-bandwidth bipolar multiecho gradient echo sequences are increasingly popular in structural brain imaging because of reduced water-fat shifts, lower susceptibility effects, and improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) efficiency. In this study, we investigated the performance of three three-dimensional multiecho sequences (MPRAGE, MP2RAGE, and FLASH) with scan times < 9 min and 1-mm isotropic resolution against their single-echo, low-bandwidth counterparts at 3T. We also compared the performance of multiparameter mapping (PD, T1 , and T2*) with bipolar multiecho MP2RAGE versus the variable flip angle technique with multiecho FLASH (VFA-FLASH). METHODS: Multiecho sequences were optimized to yield equivalent contrast and improved SNR compared with their single-echo counterparts. Theoretical SNR gains were verified with measurements in a multilayered phantom. Robust image processing pipelines extracted PD, T1 , and T2* maps from MP2RAGE or VFA-FLASH, and the corresponding SNR was measured with varying SENSE accelerations (R = 1-5) and number of echoes (N = 1-12). All sequences were tested on four healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Multiecho sequences achieved SNR gains of 1.3-1.6 over single-echo sequences. MP2RAGE yielded comparable T1 -to-noise ratio to VFA-FLASH, but significantly lower SNR (<50%) in PD and T2* maps. Measured SNR gains agreed with the theoretical predictions for SENSE accelerations ≤3. CONCLUSION: Multiecho sequences achieve higher SNR efficiency over conventional single-echo sequences, despite three-fold higher sampling bandwidths. VFA-FLASH surpasses MP2RAGE in its ability to map three parameters with high SNR and 1-mm isotropic resolution in a clinically relevant scan time (∼8:30 min), whereas MP2RAGE yields lower intersubject variability in T1 . Magn Reson Med 77:2186-2202, 2017.
Authors: Korbinian Eckstein; Beata Bachrata; Gilbert Hangel; Georg Widhalm; Christian Enzinger; Markus Barth; Siegfried Trattnig; Simon Daniel Robinson Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2021-05-15 Impact factor: 7.400