An alternative to GRASE: toward spin-echo-like contrast with independent reconstruction of gradient-echo images.

Multiple gradient echoes are generated for each RF echo of a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) train. Independently, phase-encoded fast spin-echo images are obtained from the different gradient echoes. Presently, three images are formed from three gradient-echoes from each of four RF echoes. The two peripheral gradient echo images are encoded for a late effective TE, then summed after reconstruction: this image has decreased fat intensity and increased susceptibility contrast compared with fast spin echo. The central gradient echoes yielded another image of intermediate contrast useful for neuroimaging. Raw data from the variously timed gradient echoes are not combined as they are in GRASE.