Halfscan: clinical applications in MR imaging

A series of phantom experiments was performed to evaluate the effects of half-Fourier scanning, also known as Halfscan, on signal-to-noise and in-plane resolution. Resolution was not demonstrably effected with the available phantoms and signal-to-noise was seen to vary as the square root of time independent of the implementation of Halfscan. Evaluation of the Halfscan technique was made using data from 240 patients. The technique was found to "salvage" examination in an estimated 70% of uncooperative patients where motion artifact or other patient concerns would have precluded clinically useful studies. Halfscan was also combined with other techniques such as increased number of signal acquisitions, prolonged repetition times and three-dimensional Fourier transform technique.