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Abstract #2018

Optimizing a 3D Double Inversion Recovery (DIR) Protocol to Obtain Optimal Grey/White Matter Contrast in the Pediatric Brain

Amy Louise Kotsenas1, David W. Stanley2, Dan W. Rettmann3, John D. Port1

1Dept. of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; 2GE Healthcare, Proctor, MN, United States; 3GE Healthcare, Rochester, MN, United States


The double inversion recovery (DIR) sequence supresses both cerebrospinal fluid and white matter signal which is of benefit in detecting subtle malformations of cortical development. Using the TI parameters from our adult DIR protocol did not provide optimum white matter signal suppression in pediatric patients as the T1 of the white matter varies with the degree of myelination. We were able to determine approximate TIwm values for use in DIR sequence to optimize the grey-white matter contrast in patients aged 1 year to 7.5 years. We were unable to optimize white matter suppression in children under 1 year of age.