CSF-SUPPRESSED T2-WEIGHTED 3-DIMENSIONAL MP-RAGE MR-IMAGING

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) is a pulse sequence used f or acquiring TO-weighted images of the brain and spine in which the no rmally high signal intensity of CSF is greatly attenuated. The CSF-sup pressed T2-weighted contrast of this technique may be more sensitive t o a variety of disorders than that of conventional T2-weighted imaging . The primary disadvantage associated with conventional spin-echo impl ementations of FLAIR is the relatively limited anatomic coverage that can be achieved in a reasonable imaging time, We developed and optimiz ed a three-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (3D MP-RAGE) pulse sequence that combines CSF-suppressed T2-weighted contr ast similar to existing FLAIR techniques with anatomic coverage charac teristic of 3D imaging. A preliminary evaluation of the new sequence w as performed by imaging healthy volunteers and patients with multiple sclerosis.