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Spiral MR fingerprinting at 7T with simultaneous B1 estimation
Guido Buonincontri1, Rolf F Schulte2, Mirco Cosottini3
1Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Pisa, Italy.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
|April 18, 2017
Summary
This study presents a new magnetic resonance fingerprinting method for quantitative brain imaging at 7T. The technique effectively corrects for B1+ field inhomogeneities, improving T2 estimation accuracy and speed.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Neuroimaging
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Background:
- Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for diagnosing neurological conditions.
- B1+ field inhomogeneities commonly occur in high-field MRI (e.g., 7T), affecting quantitative accuracy.
- Existing methods for correcting B1+ variations in quantitative MRI are often limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To adapt and evaluate a magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) approach for quantitative brain imaging at 7T.
- To address challenges posed by B1+ field inhomogeneities in the human brain.
- To simultaneously estimate T1, T2, and the B1+ field profile.
Main Methods:
- Modified MRF sequence utilizing spiral readouts at 7T.
- Simultaneous estimation of B1+ field, T1, and T2 parameters.
- Evaluation of the method's performance in human brain imaging, focusing on B1+ inhomogeneity correction.
Main Results:
- The developed MRF scheme significantly reduced bias and variance in T2 estimations, even under extreme B1+ inhomogeneity.
- Quantitative accuracy improvements were observed compared to existing literature methods.
- Fast acquisition times (12s/slice) and low Specific Absorption Rate (SAR < 1.5W/kg) were achieved.
Conclusions:
- The proposed MRF approach enables accurate and efficient quantitative brain imaging at 7T.
- Simultaneous B1+ field profiling enhances the reliability of T1 and T2 measurements.
- This technique holds promise for advanced neuroimaging applications requiring precise quantitative data.