Cervical spine: three-dimensional MR imaging with magnetization transfer prepulsed turbo field echo techniques

In 11 volunteers, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the cervical spine was performed with a magnetization transfer preparatory pulse (prepulsed), three-dimensional Fourier transform, turbo field echo sequence. The effects of flip angle, number of shots, phase-encoding profile order, and magnetization transfer prepulse offset frequency on cerebrospinal fluid-to-cord contrast were evaluated. The contrast was improved by lowering the flip angle, increasing the number of shots, and implementing a magnetization transfer prepulse and linear phase-encoding profile order. Maximum myelographic effect was achieved with the magnetization prepulse (500-Hz frequency offset), 3 degrees flip angle, six shots, and linear phase-encoding profile order.