Personalized 2D-selective RF excitation in high field MRI

Abstract

2D spatially selective excitation (2D SSE) was used to improve structural imaging in high field MRI. The vessel wall of the aorta could be imaged with greater efficiency and reduced artefact levels when 2D SSE was used in combination with a novel black blood method, compared to regular excitation strategies. Additional benefits became available when 2D SSE was combined with parallel imaging, compared to the conventional combination with a reduced field of view. The hippocampus could be imaged at 7T field strength at unprecedented isotropic resolution versus imaging time. A method has been presented that allows 2D SSE to be used in combination with highly efficient nonselective refocusing pulses. This expanded the potential applicability of 2D SSE from gradient echo sequences to turbo spin echo sequences.