PROPELLER EPI: An MRI technique suitable for diffusion tensor imaging at high field strength with reduced geometric distortions
Journal
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Journal Volume
54
Journal Issue
5
Pages
1232-1240
Date Issued
2005
Author(s)
Abstract
A technique suitable for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at high field strengths is presented in this work. The method is based on a periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) k-space trajectory using EPI as the signal readout module, and hence is dubbed PROPELLER EPI. The implementation of PROPELLER EPI included a series of correction schemes to reduce possible errors associated with the intrinsically higher sensitivity of EPI to off-resonance effects. Experimental results on a 3.0 Tesla MR system showed that the PROPELLER EPI images exhibit substantially reduced geometric distortions compared with single-shot EPI, at a much lower RF specific absorption rate (SAR) than the original version of the PROPELLER fast spin-echo (FSE) technique. For DTI, the self-navigated phase-correction capability of the PROPELLER EPI sequence was shown to be effective for in vivo imaging. A higher signal-to-noise ratio (SMR) compared to single-shot EPI at an identical total scan time was achieved, which is advantageous for routine DTI applications in clinical practice. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Subjects
Diffusion tensor imaging; EPI; Geometric distortions; PROPELLER imaging; Specific absorption rate
Other Subjects
Biomedical signal processing; Clustering algorithms; Diffusion; Geometry; Magnetic resonance imaging; Propellers; Signal to noise ratio; Space flight; Tensors; Clinical practices; Correction schemes; Fast spin echos; Geometric distortion; High field strengths; K-space trajectories; Phase corrections; Specific absorption rate; Diffusion tensor imaging; analytic method; analytical error; article; clinical practice; comparative study; contrast enhancement; diffusion tensor imaging; geometry; image reconstruction; in vivo study; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; sensitivity and specificity; signal noise ratio
Type
journal article