Work

Rapid anatomical imaging of the neonatal brain using T2 ‐prepared 3D balanced steady‐state free precession

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Purpose To develop a new approach to 3D gradient echo‐based anatomical imaging of the neonatal brain with a substantially shorter scan time than standard 3D fast spin echo (FSE) methods, while maintaining a high SNR. Methods T2‐prepration was employed immediately prior to image acquisition of 3D balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) with a single trajectory of center‐out k‐space view ordering, which requires no magnetization recovery time between imaging segments during the scan. This approach was compared with 3D FSE, 2D single‐shot FSE, and product 3D bSSFP imaging in numerical simulations, plus phantom and in vivo experiments. Results T2‐prepared 3D bSSFP generated image contrast of gray matter, white matter, and CSF very similar to that of reference T2‐weighted imaging methods, without major image artifacts. Scan time of T2‐prepared 3D bSSFP was remarkably shorter compared to 3D FSE, whereas SNR was comparable to that of 3D FSE and higher than that of 2D single‐shot FSE. Specific absorption rate of T2‐prepared 3D bSSFP remained within the safety limit. Determining an optimal imaging flip angle of T2‐prepared 3D bSSFP was critical to minimizing blurring of images. Conclusion T2‐prepared 3D bSSFP offers an alternative method for anatomical imaging of the neonatal brain with dramatically reduced scan time compared to standard 3D FSE and higher SNR than 2D single‐shot FSE.

Source: Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29537

Authors: Jinho Park, MinJung Jang, Linda Heier, Catherine Limperopoulos, Zungho Zun