Centric Reordered 2D BSSFP Imaging Using Variable Flip Angles for Fourier Decomposed MRI in the Lung

Dominique M.R. Corteville¹, smund Kjrstad¹, Frank G. Zllner¹, Lothar R. Schad¹

The variable flip angle approach for balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) imaging makes it possible to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while keeping the specific absorption rate (SAR) constant. In this contribution the application of this technique to fourier decomposed (FD) proton pulmonary MRI is systematically investigated. For this purpose several flip angle schemes were combined with centric k-space reordering in such a way that the center of k-space was acquired with a higher flip angle than the periphery.