Optimization of a 3D Phase-Sensitive IR Protocol for DGEMRIC Technique.

Michael Durkan¹, Jerzy Szumowski², Dawson Brown¹, Dennis Crawford¹, Erwin Schwarz², Katrina Heiles³

Phase-sensitive reconstruction of 3D IR images for DGEMRIC technique doubles the dynamic range of data which decreases the number of TI times needed for fitting T1 relaxation maps. We will demonstrate that 3D IR can be optimized with four TI points fit to 3-Parameter inversion recovery function. Using the phase-sensitive reconstruction method for optimized DGEMRIC exams result in total acquisition times less than 10 minutes. Short exam time combined with reliable T1-map calculation makes this approach a clinically attractive implementation of DGEMRIC technique.