Partial wavelet encoding: A new approach for accelerating temporal resolution in contrast-enhanced MR imaging

we propose a new approach using wavelet encoding tot improve temporal resol ution in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, Exploiting the unique property of wavelets localized in space and frequency, we construct an efficient encoding scheme to capture signal changes due to contrast agen t uptake, which in general is spatially localized with low- and mid-range f requency components, On the basis of space-frequency analysis, we describe mathematical formulations of our method and discuss its theoretical advanta ges over Fourier-based phase-encoding methods (the keyhole and reduced-enco ding imaging by generalized-series reconstruction [RIGR] techniques). The r esults obtained in computer simulations and a phantom study demonstrate the feasibility and practical advantages of our approach, (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.