Imaging of shifted stimulated echoes and multiple spin echoes

It is shown that a repetitive pulse sequence consisting of two 90 degrees pulses and gradients in a 1:2 ratio around the second 90 degrees pulse generates interscan shifted stimulated echoes (SSTEs) and intrascan multiple spin echoes (MSEs). Separation of these two types of signals is accomplished using specific gradient crusher schemes. The intensity of the SSTEs is an order of magnitude larger than that of the MSEs and determines the signal contrast if both effects are selected simultaneously. The SSTE sequence generates improved contrast between gray and white matter, even at high field, which is explained in terms of increased inverse T1-weighting for the interscan echo. The MSE image has low signal to noise and no detectable contrast. The effect of interscan diffusion weighting is also discussed.