Meeting Banner
Abstract #2537

Assessment of Interslice MT Signal Characteristics of BSSFP for MTR Imaging of the Human Brain

Jeffrey William Barker1, 2, Kyongtae Ty Bae1, Sung-Hong Park, 13

1Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; 2Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; 3Bio and Brain Engineering, Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Yuseong-gu, Korea

For our newly developed MT ratio (MTR) imaging, we assessed characteristics of interslice MT signals, that are inherent to multi-slice bSSFP imaging for varying flip angle and phase encoding (PE) order. We compared <I>in vivo</I> MTR values to two-pool model simulations. Overall, MTR and SNR values increased with flip angle. Centric PE images showed higher MTR values, higher SNR, and better WM/GM contrast. Linear PE image contrast was influenced by relaxation effects. Simulations agreed well with <I>in vivo data</I>. Our study assessed characteristic factors of the interslice MTR method to be considered for MTR imaging in the brain.

Keywords

accomplished achieved acquisition adding additionally adjusting advanced agreed anterior appears application approved assess assessed assessment attribute axial balanced bandwidth barker bioengineering board brain centric characteristics close coil considered contrast corpus delay depends descending deviation dummy duration easily effectively element encoding equations exchange excitation experimental extension fast field fluid free frequencies frequency frontal function future give grad gradient gray head healthy hong in vivo include index initial institutional intensities irradiation linear linearly literature located longitudinal macromolecular magnetization magnitude match mathematically matrix measured model modeled modified need neighboring overall oversampling park partial pixel pixels pool positive precession predicted preferentially previously prior protons pulse pulses radiology reach reached readout received receives recovery representative respective respectively rest review saturation science select sign simulated simulation simulations slice slices solid solutions solved space spatially spin steady steps subjects substantially substitution sufficient suggesting sung system taken technology terms train transfer transferred transverse true units utilized varies varying volume water white