Radial fast interrupted steady-state (FISS) magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract

To report a highly interrupted radial variant of balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) imaging, termed fast interrupted steady-state (FISS), for decreasing flow artifact as well as fat signal conspicuity with respect to bSSFP, and saturation effects vis-à-vis fast low-angle shot (FLASH) imaging. Numerical simulations, phantom studies, and human studies were conducted to examine the imaging contrast, off-resonance behavior, and flow properties of FISS. Human studies applied FISS for cine cardiac imaging and ungated nonenhanced MR angiography (MRA) of the legs, neck, and brain. Comparisons were made with bSSFP and FLASH imaging. Simulations revealed that FISS retains the high signal levels of bSSFP for stationary on-resonant spins, while reducing undesirable signal heterogeneity from flowing spins. Phantom studies agreed with the simulations, and showed that FISS reduces fat signal and flow artifact with respect to bSSFP imaging. FISS imaging in human subjects agreed with the simulations and phantom studies, and showed reduced saturation artifact compared with FLASH imaging. FISS imaging reduces flow artifact and fat signal conspicuity with respect to bSSFP imaging, and ameliorates arterial signal saturation observed with FLASH imaging. Potential clinical applications include fat-suppressed cine imaging and ungated nonenhanced MRA. Magn Reson Med 79:2077-2086, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.