[Imaging properties of SAR-reduced sequences in 3T-MR system]

Reduction of the specific absorption ratio (SAR) is essential in MR systems with high magnetic fields. Therefore, a variety of SAR-reduced sequences are available on modern 3T-MR systems, and some sequences can be applied under the same conditions as conventional sequences. The purpose of this study was to compare the imaging properties of a phantom acquired by SAR-reduced sequences with those of conventional sequences. Our data showed that effective relaxation time differed in each of the sequences, because the echo space and RF pulse of the SAR-reduced sequences varied from those of the conventional sequences. Further, the image contrast of the SAR-reduced sequences differed from the image contrast of the conventional ones.