Abstract #4224

3D Acquisition of the Inhomogeneous Magnetization Transfer Effect for Greater White Matter Contrast

Gopal Varma¹, Gottfried Schlaug², David C. Alsop¹

¹Radiology, Division of MR Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; ²Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

The contrast from inhomogeneous MT (IHMT) appears more specific to white matter (WM) than regular MT imaging, and requires fewer acquisitions than T₂ mapping. However prior work with IHMT is limited to single slice acquisition. IHMT is developed towards a 3D acquisition based on traditional MT sequences: 3D IHMT data were obtained in vivo using spoiled gradient-echo acquisitions in ~5 minutes. The nature of the IHMT acquisition also provides MT images for direct comparison. IHMT and MT ratios from WM, and basal ganglia grey matter (BG GM) are compared and a greater difference is observed between WM and BG GM from the IHMT technique.