Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) uses a 3D multi-echo gradient-echo sequence with unipolar gradient lobes to acquire all echoes, with fly-back gradients inserted in-between. These fly-back gradients reduce acquisition efficiency and increase echo spacing. We demonstrated that the high gradient performance available on a compact 3T system can reduce the echo spacing in the multi-echo readout by reducing the pulse-width of the fly-back gradient, which consequently allows a greater number of echoes to be sampled. The increased number of echoes translates into reduced noise and improved small vessel conspicuity in SWI acquired on the compact 3T compared to the conventional whole-body system.
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