MULTISLAB 3-DIMENSIONAL T2-WEIGHTED FAST SPIN-ECHO IMAGING OF THE HIPPOCAMPUS - SEQUENCE OPTIMIZATION

Three-dimensional (3D) fast spin-echo (FSE) imaging can produce contig uous thin sections for high-quality multiplanar reconstructions. Such reformatted images may be useful in the evaluation of three-dimensiona lly complex, curvilinear anatomic structures such as the hippocampus. The authors describe a 3D FSE protocol for T2-weighted imaging of the hippocampus. The protocol uses an overlapping-multiple-slab imaging st rategy to decrease imaging times and a modified refocusing radio-frequ ency pulse train to improve the reformatted images. The authors descri be their parameter optimization, discuss the benefits and limitations of the new sequence, and present representative images of healthy volu nteers.