Spin-echo T1-weighted imaging of the brain with interleaved acquisition and presaturation pulse at 3 T: a feasibility study before clinical use.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Although spin-echo (SE) sequence has some advantages over gradient-echo sequence in brain imaging, gradient-echo sequence is commonly used for T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) at 3 T because contrast on SE T1WI is widely believed to be poor at 3 T. Recently, gray-white matter contrast on single-slice and multi-slice SE imaging with interslice gap was reported as better at 3 T than at 1.5 T. This study examined the feasibility of interleaved SE T1WI of the brain at 3 T. This study also examined whether presaturation pulse (PP) sufficiently suppresses intra-arterial signals because these signals tend to be hyperintense due to longer T1 at 3 T.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects consisted of 18 healthy volunteers. Two sets of T1WI were performed using SE sequence. One set consisted of imaging without PP, and the other consisted of imaging with PP. Each set contained three types of gapless imaging as follows; sequential, 100% interleaved, and 200% interleaved imaging. In each subject, contrast-to-noise ratio between gray-matter and white-matter (CNR(GM-WM)) and intra-arterial signals were evaluated.

RESULTS

CNR(GM-WM) was significantly higher on interleaved images than on sequential images, regardless of PP (P < .0001). PP sufficiently suppressed intra-arterial signals (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

CNR(GM-WM) on SE T1WI at 3 T can be improved by interleaved acquisition, and PP sufficiently suppressed intra-arterial signals. Interleaved SE T1WI with PP appears clinically feasible at 3 T.