Phase‐sensitive,dual‐acquisition,single‐slab, 3D,turbo‐spin‐echo pulse sequence for simultaneous T2‐weighted and fluid‐attenuated whole‐brain imaging

Conventional T₂‐weighted turbo/fast spin echo imaging is clinically accepted as the most sensitive method to detect brain lesions but generates a high signal intensity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), yielding diagnostic ambiguity for lesions close to CSF. Fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery can be an alternative, selectively eliminating CSF signals. However, a long time of inversion, which is required for CSF suppression, increases imaging time substantially and thereby limits spatial resolution. The purpose of this work is to develop a phase‐sensitive, dual‐acquisition, single‐slab, three‐dimensional, turbo/fast spin echo imaging, simultaneously achieving both conventional T₂‐weighted and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery–like high‐resolution whole‐brain images in a single pulse sequence, without an apparent increase of imaging time. Dual acquisition in each time of repetition is performed, wherein an in phase between CSF and brain tissues is achieved in the first acquisition, while an opposed phase, which is established by a sequence of a long refocusing pulse train with variable flip angles, a composite flip‐down restore pulse train, and a short time of delay, is attained in the second acquisition. A CSF‐suppressed image is then reconstructed by weighted averaging the in‐ and opposed‐phase images. Numerical simulations and in vivo experiments are performed, demonstrating that this single pulse sequence may replace both conventional T₂‐weighted imaging and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery. Magn Reson Med 63:1422–1430, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Time‐efficient fast spin echo imaging at 4.7 T with low refocusing angles

An implementation of fast spin echo at 4.7 T designed for versatile and time‐efficient T₂‐weighted imaging of the human brain is presented. Reduced refocusing angles (α < 180°) were employed to overcome specific absorption rate (SAR) constraints and their effects on image quality assessed. Image intensity and tissue contrast variations from heterogeneous RF transmit fields and incidental magnetization transfer effects were investigated at reduced refocusing angles. We found that intraslice signal variations are minimized with refocusing angles near 180°, but apparent gray/white matter contrast is independent of refocusing angle. Incidental magnetization transfer effects from multislice acquisitions were shown to attenuate white matter intensity by 25% and gray matter intensity by 15% at 180°; less than 5% attenuation was seen in all tissues at flip angles below 60°. We present multislice images acquired without excess delay time for SAR mitigation using a variety of protocols. Subsecond half Fourier acquisition single‐shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) images were obtained with a novel variable refocusing angle echo train (20° < α < 58°) and high‐resolution scans with a voxel volume of 0.18 mm³ were acquired in 6.5 min with refocusing angles of 100°. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

SNR‐optimized phase‐sensitive dual‐acquisition turbo spin echo imaging: A fast alternative to FLAIR

Phase‐sensitive dual‐acquisition single‐slab three‐dimensional turbo spin echo imaging was recently introduced, producing high‐resolution isotropic cerebrospinal fluid attenuated brain images without long inversion recovery preparation. Despite the advantages, the weighted‐averaging‐based technique suffers from noise amplification resulting from different levels of cerebrospinal fluid signal modulations over the two acquisitions. The purpose of this work is to develop a signal‐to‐noise ratio‐optimized version of the phase‐sensitive dual‐acquisition single‐slab three‐dimensional turbo spin echo. Variable refocusing flip angles in the first acquisition are calculated using a three‐step prescribed signal evolution while those in the second acquisition are calculated using a two‐step pseudo‐steady state signal transition with a high flip‐angle pseudo‐steady state at a later portion of the echo train, balancing the levels of cerebrospinal fluid signals in both the acquisitions. Low spatial frequency signals are sampled during the high flip‐angle pseudo‐steady state to further suppress noise. Numerical simulations of the Bloch equations were performed to evaluate signal evolutions of brain tissues along the echo train and optimize imaging parameters. In vivo studies demonstrate that compared with conventional phase‐sensitive dual‐acquisition single‐slab three‐dimensional turbo spin echo, the proposed optimization yields 74% increase in apparent signal‐to‐noise ratio for gray matter and 32% decrease in imaging time. The proposed method can be a potential alternative to conventional fluid‐attenuated imaging. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Parallel‐transmission‐enabled three‐dimensional T2‐weighted imaging of the human brain at 7 Tesla

Purpose: A promise of ultra high field MRI is to produce images of the human brain with higher spatial resolution due to an increased signal to noise ratio. Yet, the shorter radiofrequency wavelength induces an inhomogeneous distribution of the transmit magnetic field and thus challenges the applicability of MRI sequences which rely on the spin excitation homogeneity. In this work, the ability of parallel‐transmission to obtain high‐quality T₂‐weighted images of the human brain at 7 Tesla, using an original pulse design method is evaluated. Methods: Excitation and refocusing square pulses of a SPACE sequence were replaced with short nonselective transmit‐SENSE pulses individually tailored with the gradient ascent pulse engineering algorithm, adopting a k_T‐point trajectory to simultaneously mitigate B₁⁺ and ΔB₀ nonuniformities. Results: In vivo experiments showed that exploiting parallel‐transmission at 7T with the proposed methodology produces high quality T₂‐weighted whole brain images with uniform signal and contrast. Subsequent white and gray matter segmentation confirmed the expected improvements in image quality. Conclusion: This work demonstrates that the adopted formalism based on optimal control, combined with the k_T‐point method, successfully enables three‐dimensional T₂‐weighted brain imaging at 7T devoid of artifacts resulting from B₁⁺ inhomogeneity. Magn Reson Med 73:2195–2203, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Improved blood suppression in three‐dimensional (3D) fast spin‐echo (FSE) vessel wall imaging using a combination of double inversion‐recovery (DIR) and diffusion sensitizing gradient (DSG) preparations

Purpose:

To provide improved blood suppression in three‐dimensional inner‐volume fast spin‐echo (3D IV‐FSE) carotid vessel wall imaging by using a hybrid preparation consisting of double inversion‐recovery (DIR) and diffusion sensitizing gradients (DSG).

Materials and Methods:

Multicontrast black‐blood MRI is widely used for vessel wall imaging and characterization of atherosclerotic plaque composition. Blood suppression is difficult when using 3D volumetric imaging techniques. DIR approaches do not provide robust blood suppression due to incomplete replacement of blood spins, and DSG approaches compromise vessel wall signal, reducing the lumen‐wall contrast‐to‐noise ratio efficiency (CNR_eff). In this work a hybrid DIR+DSG preparation is developed and optimized for blood suppression, vessel wall signal preservation, and vessel‐wall contrast in 3D IV‐FSE imaging. Cardiac gated T₁‐weighted carotid vessel wall images were acquired in five volunteers with 0.5 × 0.5 × 2.5 mm³ spatial resolution in 80 seconds.

Results:

Data from healthy volunteers indicate that the proposed method yields a statistically significant (P < 0.01) improvement in blood suppression and lumen‐wall CNR_eff compared to standard DIR and standard DSG methods alone.

Conclusion:

A combination of DIR and DSG preparations can provide improved blood suppression and lumen‐wall CNR_eff for 3D IV‐FSE vessel wall imaging. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010; 31: 398–405. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of refocusing flip angle modulation and view ordering in 3D fast spin echo

Recent advances have reduced scan time in three‐dimensional fast spin echo (3D‐FSE) imaging, including very long echo trains through refocusing flip angle (FA) modulation and 2D‐accelerated parallel imaging. This work describes a method to modulate refocusing FAs that produces sharp point spread functions (PSFs) from very long echo trains while exercising direct control over minimum, center‐k‐space, and maximum FAs in order to accommodate the presence of flow and motion, SNR requirements, and RF power limits. Additionally, a new method for ordering views to map signal modulation from the echo train into k_y‐k_z space that enables nonrectangular k‐space grids and autocalibrating 2D‐accelerated parallel imaging is presented. With long echo trains and fewer echoes required to encode large matrices, large volumes with high in‐ and through‐plane resolution matrices may be acquired with scan times of 3–6 min, as demonstrated for volumetric brain, knee, and kidney imaging. Magn Reson Med 60:640–649, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Single‐shot T1 mapping using simultaneous acquisitions of spin‐ and stimulated‐echo‐planar imaging (2D ss‐SESTEPI)

The conventional stimulated‐echo NMR sequence only measures the longitudinal component while discarding the transverse component, after tipping up the prepared magnetization. This transverse magnetization can be used to measure a spin echo, in addition to the stimulated echo. Two‐dimensional single‐shot spin‐ and stimulated‐echo‐planar imaging (ss‐SESTEPI) is an echo‐planar‐imaging‐based single‐shot imaging technique that simultaneously acquires a spin‐echo‐planar image and a stimulated‐echo‐planar image after a single radiofrequency excitation. The magnitudes of the spin‐echo‐planar image and stimulated‐echo‐planar image differ by T₁ decay and diffusion weighting for perfect 90° radiofrequency and thus can be used to rapidly measure T₁. However, the spatial variation of amplitude of radiofrequency field induces uneven splitting of the transverse magnetization for the spin‐echo‐planar image and stimulated‐echo‐planar image within the imaging field of view. Correction for amplitude of radiofrequency field inhomogeneity is therefore critical for two‐dimensional ss‐SESTEPI to be used for T₁ measurement. We developed a method for amplitude of radiofrequency field inhomogeneity correction by acquiring an additional stimulated‐echo‐planar image with minimal mixing time, calculating the difference between the spin echo and the stimulated echo and multiplying the stimulated‐echo‐planar image by the inverse functional map. Diffusion‐induced decay is corrected by measuring the average diffusivity during the prescanning. Rapid single‐shot T₁ mapping may be useful for various applications, such as dynamic T₁ mapping for real‐time estimation of the concentration of contrast agent in dynamic contrast enhancement MRI. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Imaging iron‐loaded mouse glioma tumors with bSSFP at 3 T

The poor prognosis for patients with high‐grade glioma is partly due to the invasion of tumor cells into surrounding brain tissue. The goal of the present work was to develop a mouse model of glioma that included the potential to track cell invasion using MRI by labeling GL261 cells with iron oxide contrast agents prior to intracranial injection. Two types of agents were compared with several labeling schemes to balance between labeling with sufficient iron to curb the dilution effect of cell division while avoiding overwhelming signal loss that could prevent adequate visualization of tumor boundaries. The balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) pulse sequence was evaluated for its suitability for imaging glioma tumors and compared to T₂‐weighted two‐dimensional fast spin echo (FSE) and T₁‐weighted spoiled gradient recalled echo (SPGR) at 3 T in terms of signal‐to‐noise ratio and contrast‐to‐noise ratio efficiencies. Ultimately, a three‐dimensional bSSFP protocol consisting of a set of two images with complementary contrasts was developed, allowing excellent tumor visualization with minimal iron contrast when using pulse repetition time = 6 ms and α = 40°, and extremely high sensitivity to iron when using pulse repetition time = 22 ms and α = 20°. Quantitative histologic analysis validated that the strong signal loss seen in balanced steady state free precession pulse sequence images of iron‐loaded tumors correlated well with the presence of iron. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Eddy‐current compensated diffusion weighting with a single refocusing RF pulse

A modification of the Stejskal‐Tanner diffusion‐weighting preparation with a single refocusing RF pulse is presented which involves three gradient lobes that can be adjusted to null eddy currents with any given decay rate to reduce geometric distortions in diffusion‐weighted echo‐planar imaging (EPI). It has a very similar compensation performance as the commonly used double‐spin‐echo preparation but (i) is less sensitive to flip angle imperfections, e.g. along the slice profile, and B₁ inhomogeneities and (ii) can yield shorter echo times for moderate b values, notably for longer echo trains as required for higher spatial resolution. It therefore can provide an increased signal‐to‐noise ratio as is simulated numerically and demonstrated experimentally in water phantoms and the human brain for standard EPI (2.0 × 2.0 mm²) and high‐resolution EPI of inner field‐of‐views using 2D‐selective RF excitations (0.5 × 1.0 mm²). Thus, the presented preparation may help to overcome current limitations of diffusion‐weighted EPI, in particular at high static magnetic fields. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

3D steady‐state diffusion‐weighted imaging with trajectory using radially batched internal navigator echoes (TURBINE)

While most diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) is acquired using single‐shot diffusion‐weighted spin‐echo echo‐planar imaging, steady‐state DWI is an alternative method with the potential to achieve higher‐resolution images with less distortion. Steady‐state DWI is, however, best suited to a segmented three‐dimensional acquisition and thus requires three‐dimensional navigation to fully correct for motion artifacts. In this paper, a method for three‐dimensional motion‐corrected steady‐state DWI is presented. The method uses a unique acquisition and reconstruction scheme named trajectory using radially batched internal navigator echoes (TURBINE). Steady‐state DWI with TURBINE uses slab‐selection and a short echo‐planar imaging (EPI) readout each pulse repetition time. Successive EPI readouts are rotated about the phase‐encode axis. For image reconstruction, batches of cardiac‐synchronized readouts are used to form three‐dimensional navigators from a fully sampled central k‐space cylinder. In vivo steady‐state DWI with TURBINE is demonstrated in human brain. Motion artifacts are corrected using refocusing reconstruction and TURBINE images prove less distorted compared to two‐dimensional single‐shot diffusion‐weighted‐spin‐EPI. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Transverse relaxometry with stimulated echo compensation

Presented is a fitting model for transverse relaxometry data acquired with the multiple‐refocused spin‐echo sequence. The proposed model, requiring no additional data input or pulse sequence modifications, compensates for imperfections in the transmit field and radiofrequency (RF) profiles. Exploiting oscillatory echo behavior to estimate alternate coherence pathways, the model compensates for prolonged signal decay from stimulated echo pathways yielding precise monoexponential T₂ quantification. Verified numerically and experimentally at 4.7 T in phantoms and the human brain, over 95% accuracy is readily attainable in realistic imaging situations without sacrificing multislice capabilities or requiring composite or adiabatic RF pulses. The proposed model allows T₂ quantitation in heterogeneous transmit fields and permits thin refocusing widths for efficient multislice imaging. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

T2‐weighted 3D fMRI using S2‐SSFP at 7 tesla

In this study, the sensitivity of the S₂‐steady‐state free precession (SSFP) signal for functional MRI at 7 T was investigated. In order to achieve the necessary temporal resolution, a three‐dimensional acquisition scheme with acceleration along two spatial axes was employed. Activation maps based on S₂‐steady‐state free precession data showed similar spatial localization of activation and sensitivity as spin‐echo echo‐planar imaging (SE‐EPI), but data can be acquired with substantially lower power deposition. The functional sensitivity estimated by the average z‐values was not significantly different for SE‐EPI compared to the S₂‐signal but was slightly lower for the S₂‐signal (6.74 ± 0.32 for the TR = 15 ms protocol and 7.51 ± 0.78 for the TR = 27 ms protocol) compared to SE‐EPI (7.49 ± 1.44 and 8.05 ± 1.67) using the same activated voxels, respectively. The relative signal changes in these voxels upon activation were slightly lower for SE‐EPI (2.37% ± 0.18%) compared to the TR = 15 ms S₂‐SSFP protocol (2.75% ± 0.53%) and significantly lower than the TR = 27 ms protocol (5.38% ± 1.28%), in line with simulations results. The large relative signal change for the long TR SSFP protocol can be explained by contributions from multiple coherence pathways and the low intrinsic intensity of the S₂ signal. In conclusion, whole‐brain T₂‐weighted functional MRI with negligible image distortion at 7 T is feasible using the S₂‐SSFP sequence and partially parallel imaging. Magn Reson Med 63:1015–1020, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Improvements in parallel imaging accelerated functional MRI using multiecho echo‐planar imaging

Multiecho echo‐planar imaging (EPI) was implemented for blood‐oxygenation‐level‐dependent functional MRI at 1.5 T and compared to single‐echo EPI with and without parallel imaging acceleration. A time‐normalized breath‐hold task using a block design functional MRI protocol was carried out in combination with up to four echo trains per excitation and parallel imaging acceleration factors R = 1–3. Experiments were conducted in five human subjects, each scanned in three sessions. Across all reduction factors, both signal‐to‐fluctuation‐noise ratio and the total number of activated voxels were significantly lower using a single‐echo EPI pulse sequence compared with the multiecho approach. Signal‐to‐fluctuation‐noise ratio and total number of activated voxels were also considerably reduced for nonaccelerated conventional single‐echo EPI when compared to three‐echo measurements with R = 2. Parallel imaging accelerated multiecho EPI reduced geometric distortions and signal dropout, while it increased blood‐oxygenation‐level‐dependent signal sensitivity all over the brain, particularly in regions with short underlying T*₂. Thus, the presented method showed multiple advantages over conventional single‐echo EPI for standard blood‐oxygenation‐level‐dependent functional MRI experiments. Magn Reson Med 63:959–969, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Accelerating time‐resolved MRA with multiecho acquisition

A new four‐dimensional magnetic resonance angiograpy (MRA) technique called contrast‐enhanced angiography with multiecho and radial k‐space is introduced, which accelerates the acquisition using multiecho while maintaining a high spatial resolution and increasing the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). An acceleration factor of approximately 2 is achieved without parallel imaging or undersampling by multiecho (i.e., echo‐planar imaging) acquisition. SNR is gained from (1) longer pulse repetition times, which allow more time for T₁ regrowth; (2) decreased specific absorption rate, which allows use of flip angles that maximize contrast at high field; and (3) minimized effects of a transient contrast bolus signal with a shorter temporal footprint. Simulations, phantom studies, and in vivo scans were performed. Contrast‐enhanced angiography with multiecho and radial k‐space can be combined with parallel imaging techniques such as Generalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisitions (GRAPPA) to provide additional 2‐fold acceleration in addition to higher SNR to trade off for parallel imaging. This technique can be useful in diagnosing vascular lesions where accurate dynamic information is necessary. Magn Reson Med 63:1520–1528, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Spin‐echo magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging at 7 T with frequency‐modulated refocusing pulses

Two approaches to high‐resolution SENSE‐encoded magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) of the human brain at 7 Tesla (T) with whole‐slice coverage are described. Both sequences use high‐bandwidth radiofrequency pulses to reduce chemical shift displacement artifacts, SENSE‐encoding to reduce scan time, and dual‐band water and lipid suppression optimized for 7 T. Simultaneous B₀ and transmit B₁ mapping was also used for both sequences to optimize field homogeneity using high‐order shimming and determine optimum radiofrequency transmit level, respectively. One sequence (“Hahn‐MRSI”) used reduced flip angle (90°) refocusing pulses for lower radiofrequency power deposition, while the other sequence used adiabatic fast passage refocusing pulses for improved sensitivity and reduced signal dependence on the transmit‐B₁ level. In four normal subjects, adiabatic fast passage‐MRSI showed a signal‐to‐noise ratio improvement of 3.2 ± 0.5 compared to Hahn‐MRSI at the same spatial resolution, pulse repetition time, echo time, and SENSE‐acceleration factor. An interleaved two‐slice Hahn‐MRSI sequence is also demonstrated to be experimentally feasible. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of blood flow on double inversion recovery vessel wall MRI of the peripheral arteries: Quantitation with T2 mapping and comparison with flow‐insensitive T2‐prepared inversion recovery imaging

Blood suppression in the lower extremities using flow‐reliant methods such as double inversion recovery may be problematic due to slow blood flow. T₂ mapping using fast spin echo (FSE) acquisition was utilized to quantitate the effectiveness of double inversion recovery blood suppression in 13 subjects and showed that 25 ± 12% of perceived vessel wall pixels in the popliteal arteries contained artifactual blood signal. To overcome this problem, a flow‐insensitive T₂‐prepared inversion recovery sequence was implemented and optimal timing parameters were calculated for FSE acquisition. Black blood vessel wall imaging of the popliteal and femoral arteries was performed using two‐dimensional T₂‐prepared inversion recovery‐FSE in the same 13 subjects. Comparison with two‐dimensional double inversion recovery‐FSE showed that T₂‐prepared inversion recovery‐FSE reduced wall‐mimicking blood artifacts that inflated double inversion recovery‐FSE vessel wall area measurements in the popliteal artery. Magn Reson Med 63:736–744, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Simultaneous estimation of T(2) and apparent diffusion coefficient in human articular cartilage in vivo with a modified three-dimensional double echo steady state (DESS) sequence at 3 T

T₂ mapping and diffusion‐weighted imaging complement morphological imaging for assessing cartilage disease and injury. The double echo steady state sequence has been used for morphological imaging and generates two echoes with markedly different T₂ and diffusion weighting. Modifying the spoiler gradient area and flip angle of the double echo steady state sequence allows greater control of the diffusion weighting of both echoes. Data from two acquisitions with different spoiler gradient areas and flip angles are used to simultaneously estimate the T₂ and apparent diffusion coefficient of each voxel. This method is verified in phantoms and validated in vivo in the knee; estimates from different regions of interest in the phantoms and cartilage are compared to those obtained using standard spin‐echo methods. The Pearson correlations were 0.984 for T₂ (～2% relative difference between spin‐echo and double echo steady state estimates) and 0.997 for apparent diffusion coefficient (?1% relative difference between spin‐echo and double echo steady state estimates) for the phantom study and 0.989 for T₂ and 0.987 for apparent diffusion coefficient in regions of interest in the human knee in vivo. High accuracy for simultaneous three‐dimensional T₂ and apparent diffusion coefficient measurements are demonstrated, while also providing morphologic three‐dimensional images without blurring or distortion in reasonable scan times. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

3D fast spin echo with out‐of‐slab cancellation: A technique for high‐resolution structural imaging of trabecular bone at 7 tesla

Spin‐echo‐based pulse sequences are desirable for the application of high‐resolution imaging of trabecular bone but tend to involve high‐power deposition. Increased availability of ultrahigh field scanners has opened new possibilities for imaging with increased signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) efficiency, but many pulse sequences that are standard at 1.5 and 3 T exceed specific absorption rate limits at 7 T. A modified, reduced specific absorption rate, three‐dimensional, fast spin‐echo pulse sequence optimized specifically for in vivo trabecular bone imaging at 7 T is introduced. The sequence involves a slab‐selective excitation pulse, low‐power nonselective refocusing pulses, and phase cycling to cancel undesired out‐of‐slab signal. In vivo images of the distal tibia were acquired using the technique at 1.5, 3, and 7 T field strengths, and SNR was found to increase at least linearly using receive coils of identical geometry. Signal dependence on the choice of refocusing flip angles in the echo train was analyzed experimentally and theoretically by combining the signal from hundreds of coherence pathways, and it is shown that a significant specific absorption rate reduction can be achieved with negligible SNR loss. Magn Reson Med 63:719–727, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Linear least‐squares method for unbiased estimation of T1 from SPGR signals

The longitudinal relaxation time, T₁, can be estimated from two or more spoiled gradient recalled echo images (SPGR) acquired with different flip angles and/or repetition times (TRs). The function relating signal intensity to flip angle and TR is nonlinear; however, a linear form proposed 30 years ago is currently widely used. Here we show that this linear method provides T₁ estimates that have similar precision but lower accuracy than those obtained with a nonlinear method. We also show that T₁ estimated by the linear method is biased due to improper accounting for noise in the fitting. This bias can be significant for clinical SPGR images; for example, T₁ estimated in brain tissue (800 ms < T₁ < 1600 ms) can be overestimated by 10% to 20%. We propose a weighting scheme that correctly accounts for the noise contribution in the fitting procedure. Monte Carlo simulations of SPGR experiments are used to evaluate the accuracy of the estimated T₁ from the widely‐used linear, the proposed weighted‐uncertainty linear, and the nonlinear methods. We show that the linear method with weighted uncertainties reduces the bias of the linear method, providing T₁ estimates comparable in precision and accuracy to those of the nonlinear method while reducing computation time significantly. Magn Reson Med 60:496–501, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A simple low‐SAR technique for chemical‐shift selection with high‐field spin‐echo imaging

We have discovered a simple and highly robust method for removal of chemical shift artifact in spin‐echo MR images, which simultaneously decreases the radiofrequency power deposition (specific absorption rate). The method is demonstrated in spin‐echo echo‐planar imaging brain images acquired at 7 T, with complete suppression of scalp fat signal. When excitation and refocusing pulses are sufficiently different in duration, and thus also different in the amplitude of their slice‐select gradients, a spatial mismatch is produced between the fat slices excited and refocused, with no overlap. Because no additional radiofrequency pulse is used to suppress fat, the specific absorption rate is significantly reduced compared with conventional approaches. This enables greater volume coverage per unit time, well suited for functional and diffusion studies using spin‐echo echo‐planar imaging. Moreover, the method can be generally applied to any sequence involving slice‐selective excitation and at least one slice‐selective refocusing pulse at high magnetic field strengths. The method is more efficient than gradient reversal methods and more robust against inhomogeneities of the static (polarizing) field (B₀). Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.