Abstract #0530

Multi-Shot High-Speed 3D-EPI Thermometry using a Hybrid Method Combining 2DRF Excitation, Parallel Imaging & UNFOLD

Chang-Sheng Mei^1,2, Onur Afacan^2,3, Jing Yuan⁴, Bruno Madore², Lawrence Panych², Nathan McDannold²

¹Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA; ²Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; ³ECE, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; ⁴The Chinese University of Hong Kong

High-speed MR thermometry has been achieved with many 2D sequences, such EPI, and spiral. 3D temperature mapping is needed for some clinical application, such as transcranial FUS treatment. A hybrid method combining 2DRF excitation, parallel imaging, and UNFOLD incorporated in a 3D EPI sequence is proposed. With only GRAPPA and UNFOLD, temporal resolution achieved 1 s for matrix size 64x64x50 with noise of 0.2XC during focused ultrasound sonication in a gel phantom. 2DRF was able to further reduce echo-train-length by 58%.