An ultrafast brain MRI technique for evaluating acute neurologic deficits in the emergency department

Herein we share our preliminary experience with an ultrafast brain MRI technique for use in the ED consisting of axial T1-weighted (40 s), axial T2-weighted (62 s), axial diffusion-weighted (80 s), axial FLAIR (96 s), axial T2* (6 s), and axial susceptibility-weighted (108 s) imaging for a total scan time of 6 min and 53 s. Utilization of this ultrafast technique yields an efficient assessment of the brain, decreases ED length of stay and inpatient observation admissions, and may obviate the need for vascular imaging with either CTA or MRA in the ED.