Improving the specificity of R 2 to mesoscopic magnetic field inhomogeneity by compensating for through-slice magnetic field gradients during image acquisition.

The reversible transverse relaxation rate, R ₂ , is sensitive to mesoscopic magnetic field inhomogeneity resulting from subvoxel differences in magnetic susceptibility. This sensitivity has been exploited to measure tissue iron concentration, resting oxygen extraction fraction (qBOLD) and changes in oxygen metabolism (calibrated BOLD). However, R ₂ is also sensitive to macroscopic magnetic field inhomogeneity that left uncorrected will reduce the specificity of these applications. In this work we combined an echo planar Asymmetric Spin Echo (ASE) pulse sequence with the Gradient Echo Slice Excitation Profile Imaging (GESEPI) technique to provide compensation for through-slice magnetic field gradients during image acquisition.

This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.

Join Here