Phase Contrast in the Human Brain and Its Field Dependence

Ana Maria Oros-Peusquens¹, Miriam Rabea Kubach¹, N. Jon Shah¹

Phase information, though not fully understood, is intrinsically contained in MR data and is being increasingly used to enhance data quality. In addition to specific ROIs, in this study we have investigated the field dependence of the phase contrast of the entire brain at three fields (1.5T, 3T and 4T). We have used field maps and not single-TE phase images which are more difficult to compare between fields. The field dependence of the phase shift of the individual ROIs is approximately linear, suggesting a dominant susceptibility effect. However, the changes observed in the whole-brain distribution of the phase require further investigation.