MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

(LESSON VI)
PULSE SEQUENCE
SPIN ECHO PULSE SEQUENCE

• The most commonly used MRI technique is based on the SE

pulse sequence that was introduced in 1950 by Hahn.
• This was first applied to imaging in 1980 and was quickly
followed by additional modifications in the pulse sequence to
allow multislice imaging.
• The CarrPurcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) pulse sequence is
an improved SE pulse sequence for producing images from
multiple echoes.
 GSS – slice selection gradient

Gф – phase-encoding
gradient MF

GR - gradient magnetic field

that is energized while a
Signal is acquired (read
gradient) or frequency
encoding gradient MF
BASIC PULSE
SEQUENCE
• When refocusing is provided by a 180° RF pulse, the pulse
sequence is called a spin echo pulse sequence.
• In SE imaging, the spatial frequency domain (k-space) is filled
line by line in sequential order from bottom to top . This
process normally starts with large, negative phase encoding
gradient amplitudes going through zero phase-encoding
gradient amplitude and then to a large, positive phase-encoding
gradient amplitude.
• A significant source of artifacts in MR images is the variation
in the subject from one phase encoded measurement to the
next. The FT assumes that each line of k-space came from the
same slice of tissue in the subject. If the subject changes from
one repetition time (TR) to the next, this assumption is
violated; therefore image artifacts result.
• If any object moves from one TR to the next (blood flow,
respiration, peristalsis, cardiac), an artifact may result.
• Phase alterations resulting from motion while gradients are on
produce ghosting artifacts.
Ghosting Artifacts
INVERSION RECOVERY IMAGING

• Inversion recovery (IR)

imaging was introduced as
an approach to enhance
the T1-weighted (T1W)
contrast in SE imaging.
• A valuable application of IR for some clinical situations is the
nulling of signal from tissues having a specific T1 relaxation
time.
• short time inversion recovery (STIR) sequences
• fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)
• phase-sensitive reconstruction
- Phase-sensitive IR images present zero signal as an intermediate
gray in the image, whereas negative magnetization is dark and
positive values are bright.
- Phase-sensitive IR images also avoid the “zero bounce-point
artifact” that occurs when contrast is inverted between two tissues
as a function of TI.
zero bounce-point
artifact
FAST SPIN ECHO IMAGING
• Partial Fourier Imaging
- Two important statements about k-space and the principle of phase
encoding follow. First, when switched on, the phase-encoding
gradient magnetic field has to be sufficiently intense and long
enough to establish a phase shift adequate to distinguish two
adjacent voxels. Second, k-space is filled by stepping from a
maximum negative phase-encoding gradient amplitude through zero
to a maximum positive phase-encoding gradient amplitude in
succeeding TR intervals
- Hermitian symmetry
- half Fourier imaging (HFI)
• Rapid Acquired Relaxation Enhanced Imaging
- In 1986 Hennig suggested the use of multiple SEs with phase
encoding between each SE to measure k-space. Hennig named
his pulse sequence rapid acquired relaxation enhanced (RARE)
technique
- In 1989, Mulkern and Wong were working on T2
measurements and needed a fast T2W localizer. They adapted
Hennig’s idea, recognizing the clinical potential of RARE. They
reduced the heavy T2W and minimized the eddy current–related
artifacts. Their technique is known as fast spin echo (FSE)
-Effective echo time
- The effective echo
time is that SE obtained
with the lowest
amplitude Gф, usually
the middle SE.
• CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT WITH FAST SPIN ECHO
Stimulated Echoes
J-Coupling
Clinical Applications of Fast Spin Echo
 CHEMICAL SHIFT AND
MAGNETIZATION TRANSFER
• Introduction :
- The gyromagnetic ratio for hydrogen is 42 MHz/T. Therefore,
in a 1 T B0 field, hydrogen nuclei precess with a resonant
frequency of 42 MHz.
CHEMICAL SHIFT

• Chemical shift
- expressed in ppm (parts per million)
- an MRI technique that is used to determine whether lipid and
water protons are present with the same small voxel (three-
dimensional pixel) of space.
- Receiver bandwidth is the frequency at which an MR signal is
sampled.
MAGNETIZATION TRANSFER

• Magnetization Transfer is an MRI technique that can be used to

exploit the contrast between tissues where H protons are
present in three states:
- bound to macromolecules
- in free water
- as water in the hydration layer between the
macromolecules and the free water