Multiecho reconstruction for simultaneous water‐fat decomposition and T2* estimation

H Yu, CA McKenzie, A Shimakawa… - Journal of Magnetic …, 2007 - Wiley Online Library
H Yu, CA McKenzie, A Shimakawa, AT Vu, ACS Brau, PJ Beatty, AR Pineda, JH Brittain
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An Official Journal of the …, 2007Wiley Online Library
Purpose To describe and demonstrate the feasibility of a novel multiecho reconstruction
technique that achieves simultaneous water‐fat decomposition and T2* estimation. The
method removes interference of water‐fat separation with iron‐induced T2* effects and
therefore has potential for the simultaneous characterization of hepatic steatosis (fatty
infiltration) and iron overload. Materials and Methods The algorithm called “T2*‐IDEAL” is
based on the IDEAL water‐fat decomposition method. A novel “complex field map” construct …
Purpose
To describe and demonstrate the feasibility of a novel multiecho reconstruction technique that achieves simultaneous water‐fat decomposition and T2* estimation. The method removes interference of water‐fat separation with iron‐induced T2* effects and therefore has potential for the simultaneous characterization of hepatic steatosis (fatty infiltration) and iron overload.
Materials and Methods
The algorithm called “T2*‐IDEAL” is based on the IDEAL water‐fat decomposition method. A novel “complex field map” construct is used to estimate both R2* (1/T2*) and local B0 field inhomogeneities using an iterative least‐squares estimation method. Water and fat are then decomposed from source images that are corrected for both T2* and B0 field inhomogeneity.
Results
It was found that a six‐echo multiecho acquisition using the shortest possible echo times achieves an excellent balance of short scan and reliable R2* measurement. Phantom experiments demonstrate the feasibility with high accuracy in R2* measurement. Promising preliminary in vivo results are also shown.
Conclusion
The T2*‐IDEAL technique has potential applications in imaging of diffuse liver disease for evaluation of both hepatic steatosis and iron overload in a single breath‐hold. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:1153–1161. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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