Improving Susceptibility Weighted Contrast using Gradient Echo Plural Contrast Imaging

Jie Luo¹, Bharathi Jagadeesan², Dmitriy A. Yablonskiy²

Gradient Echo Plural Contrast Imaging (GEPCI) technique generates co-registered multiple contrast MR images (T1 weighted, quantitative R2*, T2* and frequency maps) with high quality within one scan. In this study, we demonstrate that utilizing basic GEPCI images we can also produce GEPCI-SWI images that are free from T1 weighting and RF field inhomogeneities (characteristic for standard SWI) at the same time providing improved SWI contrast. Combining GEPCI T1w and Frequency map we also generate GEPCI T1F images with superior grey/white matter contrast. This can potentially be used for identifying subtle cortical malformations associated, for example, with venous anomalies.