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Abstract #2751

Robust Multicomponent T2 Imaging in the Brain at 3T using Least Squares Fitting in the Presence of RF Inhomogenities

Sha Zhao1,2, David L. Buckley3, Geoff J. M. Parker1,2

1Imaging Science, the University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; 2Biomedical Imaging Institute, the University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; 3Division of Medical Physics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom


We propose a method for multicomponent T2 imaging of the brain at 3 T using least squares fitting for turbo-spin-echo imaging data. Commonly multiple echo data of a CPMG sequence are acquired then NNLS transformed to generate T2 spectrum images. At 3 T RF inhomogeneity affects magnetisation refocusing pulses, leading to contamination by stimulated echo signals, which degrades the generated T2 spectrum images. We present a least squares fitting method that takes into consideration the signal contribution from stimulated echoes and is capable of generating T2 component images that are less affected by RF field inhomogeneity.