Scan time reduction for readout-segmented EPI using simultaneous multislice acceleration: Diffusion-weighted imaging at 3 and 7 Tesla

Abstract Object In this work, we present a technique called simultaneous multi-contrast imaging (SMC) to acquire multiple contrasts within a single measurement. Simultaneous multi-slice imaging (SMS) shortens scan time by allowing the repetition time (TR) to be reduced for a given number of slices. SMC imaging preserves TR, while combining different scan types into a single acquisition. This technique offers new opportunities in clinical protocols where examination time is a critical factor and multiple image contrasts must be acquired. Materials and methods High-resolution, navigator-corrected, diffusion-weighted imaging was performed simultaneously with T2*-weighted acquisition at 3 T in a phantom and in five healthy subjects using an adapted readout-segmented EPI sequence (rs-EPI). Results The results demonstrated that simultaneous acquisition of two contrasts (here diffusion-weighted imaging and T2*-weighting) with SMC imaging is feasible with robust separation of contrasts and minimal effect on image quality. Discussion The simultaneous acquisition of multiple contrasts reduces the overall examination time and there is an inherent registration between contrasts. By using the results of this study to control saturation effects in SMC, the method enables rapid acquisition of distortion-matched and well-registered diffusion-weighted and T2*-weighted imaging, which could support rapid diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke.

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Combo acquisitions: Balancing scan time reduction and image quality

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine ◽

10.1002/mrm.20882 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 55 (5) ◽

pp. 1093-1105 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ralf Mekle ◽

Ed X. Wu ◽

Stephan Meckel ◽

Stephan G. Wetzel ◽

Klaus Scheffler

Keyword(s):

Image Quality ◽

Scan Time Reduction ◽

Scan Time ◽

Time Reduction

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Feasibility study of using simultaneous multi-slice RESOLVE diffusion weighted imaging to assess parotid gland tumors: comparison with conventional RESOLVE diffusion weighted imaging

10.21203/rs.3.rs-31321/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jia-Suo Jiang ◽

Liu-Ning Zhu ◽

Qian Wu ◽

Yi Sun ◽

Wei Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Image Quality ◽

Parotid Gland ◽

Diffusion Weighted Imaging ◽

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Anatomical Structure ◽

Parotid Gland Tumors ◽

Diffusion Weighted ◽

Scan Time ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Noise Ratio

Abstract Background To evaluate the feasibility of using simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) readout segmentation of long variable echo-trains (RESOLVE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to assess parotid gland tumors, compared with conventional RESOLVE DWI Methods From September 2018 to December 2018, 20 consecutive patients with parotid tumors who underwent MRI scan for pre-surgery evaluation were enrolled. SMS-RESOLVE DWI and conventional RESOLVE DWI were scanned with matched imaging parameters, respectively. The scan time of two DWI sequences was recorded. Qualitative (anatomical structure differentiation, lesion display, artifact, and overall image quality) and quantitative (apparent diffusion coefficient, ADC; ratio of signal-to-noise ratio, SNR ratio; ratio of contrast-to-noise ratio, CNR ratio) assessments of image quality were performed, and compared between SMS-RESOLVE DWI and conventional RESOLVE DWI. Paired t-test was used for statistical analyses. Results The scan time was 3 minutes and 41 seconds for SMS-RESOLVE DWI, and 5 minutes and 46 seconds for conventional RESOLVE DWI. SMS-RESOLVE DWI produced similar qualitative image quality with RESOLVE DWI (anatomical structure differentiation, P = 0.164; lesion display, P = 0.193; artifact, P = 0.330; overall image quality, P = 0.083). Meanwhile, there were no significant difference on ADCLesion (P = 0.298), ADCMasseter (P = 0.122), SNR ratio (P = 0.584) and CNR ratio (P = 0.217) between two DWI sequences. Conclusion Compared with conventional RESOLVE DWI, SMS-RESOLVE DWI could provide comparable image quality using markedly reduced scan time. SMS could increase the clinical usability of RESOLVE technique for DWI of parotid gland.

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