Andreas Deistung1, Andreas Schfer2, Ferdinand Schweser1, Karsten Sommer1, Robert Turner2, Jrgen Rainer Reichenbach1
1Medical Physics Group, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology I, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; 2Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
This study compares quantitative susceptibility maps with conventional gradient-echo (GRE) imaging approaches (magnitude, phase, R2*) with respect to anatomic tissue contrast. The contrast-to-noise ratio analysis suggests that deep gray matter structures are delineated best on susceptibility images. Susceptibility images provide an excellent and local contrast between white matter and cortical grey matter that is superior to the other GRE contrasts. Susceptibility maps also reveal (sub-)structures of the midbrain, thalamus, and basal ganglia that are not observed on corresponding magnitude, phase, and R2* images.