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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.07811 |
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Table of Contents:
- This study aimed to evaluate the potential of 3D echo-planar imaging (EPI) for improving the reliability of $T_2^*$-weighted ($T_2^*w$) data and quantification of $\textit{R}_2^*$ decay rate and susceptibility ($χ$) compared to conventional gradient echo (GRE)-based acquisition. Eight healthy subjects in a wide age range were recruited. Each subject received repeated scans for both GRE and EPI acquisitions with an isotropic 1 mm resolution at 3 T. Maps of $\textit{R}_2^*$ and $χ$ were quantified and compared using their inter-scan difference to evaluate the test-retest reliability. Inter-protocol differences of $\textit{R}_2^*$ and $χ$ between GRE and EPI were also measured voxel by voxel and in selected ROIs to test the consistency between the two acquisition methods. The quantifications of $\textit{R}_2^*$ and $χ$ using EPI protocols showed increased test-retest reliability with higher EPI factors up to 5 as performed in the experiment and were consistent with those based on GRE. This result suggested multi-shot multi-echo 3D EPI can be a useful alternative acquisition method for $T_2^*w$ MRI and quantification of $\textit{R}_2^*$ and $χ$ with reduced scan time, improved test-retest reliability and similar accuracy compared to commonly used 3D GRE.