Jennifer Elizabeth Dixon1, Paul S. Morgan2,3, Matthew J. Brookes1, Ali M. Al-Radaideh1, Emma C. Tallantyre4, Nikos Evangelou4, Peter G. Morris1
1Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK; 2Radiology & Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; 3Academic Radiology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK; 4Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK
DIR sequences have proved useful in the detection of cortical MS lesions. However, the inherently low SNR of this sequence suggests the importance of developing it at higher field. This requires the determination of inversion times to provide the desired contrast between grey matter, white matter and CSF, and must address the effects of variation in flip angle due to B1 inhomogeneity at 7T, as well as reduce the TR to obtain clinically acceptable scan times. We use this theory to produce high-resolution images acquired at 7T, which show clearly areas of signal hyperintensity associated with MS lesions
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