Diffusion‐weighted 3D multislab echo planar imaging for high signal‐to‐noise ratio efficiency and isotropic image resolution. Issue 6 (28th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Engström, Mathias; Skare, Stefan
• Is Part Of: Magnetic resonance in medicine. Volume 70:Issue 6(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1507
• Page End: 1514
• Publication Date: 2013-01-28
• Subjects: Nuclear magnetic resonance -- Periodicals; Electron paramagnetic resonance -- Periodicals; 616.07548
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.24594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0740-3194

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="mrm24594-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>To acquire isotropic high‐resolution, signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) efficient, 3D encoded diffusion‐weighted MRI data.</p> </sec> <sec id="mrm24594-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Multiple Fourier encoded slabs were combined into one full volume, using a generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) accelerated diffusion‐weighted 3D multislab echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence with 2D phase navigation and in‐plane motion correction.</p> </sec> <sec id="mrm24594-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Reconstructed data with 1.5‐mm<sup>3</sup> nominal resolution is presented and shown under the influence of motion and with variable slab thicknesses. The SNR efficiency between diffusion‐weighted 3D multislab EPI and DW 2D ss‐EPI is compared. Finally, a 1.3‐mm<sup>3</sup> full brain scan with 45 diffusion directions is presented.</p> </sec> <sec id="mrm24594-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Diffusion‐weighted 3D multislab EPI has been presented as an alternative sequence for high‐resolution and high‐SNR full brain coverage diffusion studies. Compared with the gold standard 2D diffusion‐weighted single‐shot Echo Planar Imaging, the SNR efficiency is significantly higher. Magn Reson Med 70:1507–1514, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>