Abstract
PurposeTo demonstrate that quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) parameters can be extracted from steady‐state free‐precession (SSFP) data with no external T 1 map or banding artifacts.MethodsSSFP images with multiple MT weightings were acquired and qMT parameters fitted with a two‐stage elliptical signal model.ResultsMonte Carlo simulations and data from a 3T scanner indicated that most qMT parameters could be recovered with reasonable accuracy. Systematic deviations from theory were observed in white matter, consistent with previous literature on frequency distribution effects.ConclusionsqMT parameters can be extracted from SSFP data alone, in a manner robust to banding artifacts, despite several confounds.
Highlights
| INTRODUCTIONQuantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) imaging is of great interest for investigating multiple neuropathologies, those relating to myelin.[1,2] The steady-state free-precession (SSFP) sequence is sensitive to MT and its short acquisition time is an advantage compared to more traditional gradient echo sequences.[2,4] qMT parameters can be found from SSFP data acquired at multiple flip angles,[5] but this requires an additional T1 map and assumes that all voxels are on-resonance
The steady-state free-precession (SSFP) sequence is sensitive to MT and its short acquisition time is an advantage compared to more traditional gradient echo sequences.[2,4] Quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) parameters can be found from SSFP data acquired at multiple flip angles,[5] but this requires an additional T1 map and assumes that all voxels are on-resonance
We show that by combining these methods qMT parameters can be calculated from SSFP data at multiple flip angles and phase increments
Summary
Quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) imaging is of great interest for investigating multiple neuropathologies, those relating to myelin.[1,2] The steady-state free-precession (SSFP) sequence is sensitive to MT and its short acquisition time is an advantage compared to more traditional gradient echo sequences.[2,4] qMT parameters can be found from SSFP data acquired at multiple flip angles,[5] but this requires an additional T1 map and assumes that all voxels are on-resonance. A B+1 map was acquired using the manufacturer's Bloch-Siegert sequence to correct for RF inhomogeneity.[20,21] All images were motion corrected before further processing.[22]
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