Quantitative comparison of image quality between averaged MPRAGE, averaged multi-echo MPRAGE, MP2RAGE and multi-echo MP2RAGE images at high field

T1 structural neuroimaging is challenged by spatial inhomogeneities of B₁ and B₀, especially at high fields (>= 3T). Different strategies have been proposed, MP2RAGE (less sensitive to ΔB₁, giving also a T1 map) and multi-echo MPRAGE (MEMPRAGE, less sensitive to ΔB₀, giving also a T2* map). Here we evaluate the combination of both approaches: MEMP2RAGE. We compare gray-white matter contrast (tissue_CNR) and intensity non-uniformity (INU), between MEMP2RAGE and 3 sets of images under comparable acquisition time: MP2RAGE, two averages MPRAGE, two averages MEMPRAGE. Both MP2RAGE images provide higher tissue_CNR and INU correction than standard MPRAGE images.