3D T2-Weighted Turbo Spin-Echo Body Imaging at 3T Using a Multi-Channel Parallel RF Transmission Technology: Initial Experience

Gwenael Henri Herigault¹, Gert H. van Yperen¹

3D turbo spin echo (TSE) sequences with variable flip angles (VFA) have shown their potential for 3T body imaging. However, they come with an increased sensitivity to B1 inhomogeneity. Multi-channel parallel RF Transmission (MTX) has demonstrated that it is possible to improve B1 homogeneity and flip angle accuracy inside the body at high field. This paper reports our initial experience using a 3D TSE-VFA sequence in combination with a MTX technology for abdomen and male pelvis 3T imaging. Significant signal and contrast uniformity improvements are reported using MTX as compared to the conventional 3T single RF channel technology.