Improved time efficiency and accuracy in diffusion tensor microimaging with multiple-echo acquisition

J Magn Reson. 2005 Dec;177(2):329-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jmr.2005.08.007. Epub 2005 Sep 23.

Abstract

In high-field NMR microscopy rapid single-shot imaging methods, for example, echo planar imaging, cannot be used for determination of the apparent diffusion tensor (ADT) due to large magnetic susceptibility effects. We propose a pulse sequence in which a diffusion-weighted spin-echo is followed by multiple gradient-echoes with additional diffusion weighting. These additional echoes can be used to calculate the ADT and T*2 maps. We show here that this results in modest but consistent improvements in the accuracy of ADT determination within a given total data acquisition time. The method is tested on excised, chemically fixed rat spinal cords.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anisotropy
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Female
  • Rats
  • Spinal Cord / anatomy & histology*