Abstract #1236

T2-Prepared Segmented 3D-Gradient-Echo for Fast T2-Weighted High-Resolution Three-Dimensional Imaging of the Carotid Artery Wall at 3T: A Feasibility Study

Jian Zhu^1,2, Axel Bornstedt¹, Genshan Ma², Nico Merkle¹, Naifeng Liu², Wolfgang Rottbauer¹, Volker Rasche¹

¹Internal Medicine II, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; ²Department of Cardiology, Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, People's Republic of

In this study, the use of a fast gradient echo sequence with T2 preparation is investigated for generating a T2 weighted image contrast similar to a multi-spin echo approach. The sequence has been applied to volumetric imaging of the carotid artery wall and compared to the conventional multi-spin echo technique. Using the suggested technique enabled a significant reduction of the image acquisition time up to a factor of three, with almost maintained image contrast.