Mulit-Echo Averaging in MR Elastography for Improved SNR

Bing Wu¹, Yongchuan Lai¹

High spatial resolution and SNR in phase images are key factors for high quality elastogram in MR elastography and conflict with the scan time, which is a critical issue as breah hold is usually performed during the liver scan. The use of a fast acquisition strategy such as EPI partly solves this issue, but has its own limitations such as limited SNR and large distortions. In the method, we reduce the scan time by using a minimum TR and uses multi-echo acquisition to compensate for the loss of phase SNR due to shortened TR. Phantom and in vivo experiments have been performed to evaluate this method qualitatively and quantitatively.