WATER AND FAT MR-IMAGING WITH CHEMICAL-SHIFT SELECTIVE 3D STEADY-STATE METHODS

A new 3D acquisition regimen that enables the collection of convention al, water-suppressed, and fat-suppressed images with no increase in sc an times compared with currently implemented 3D sequences is presented . The method is based on conventional 3D steady state with interleaved selective excitation of the fat resonance resulting in acquisition of a fat-based image during the TR period experienced by the water spins . This new sequence is relatively tolerant to susceptibility artifacts and results in excellent water-based images. Because the idea, which we propose, is independent of the type of steady-state imaging protoco l utilized, it can be easily applied with regimens that are specifical ly tailored to enhance contrast.