Accelerated High‐Resolution T ₁ ‐Weighted MRI Using Magnetization‐Prepared Echo‐Planar Imaging With Steady‐State Echo Pathway Enhancement

Purpose The goal is to redesign the three‐dimensional (3D) Magnetization‐Prepared Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echo (MP‐RAGE) sequence by integrating multi‐shot echo‐planar imaging (EPI) acceleration with steady‐state echo pathway enhancement, enabling simultaneous scan time reduction and contrast enhancement. The new approach improves clinical workflow, lowers scan cost, and reduces potential movement artifacts. Methods A magnetization‐prepared multi‐shot EPI readout with a short echo train length is used to replace the conventional gradient‐echo readout in 3D MP‐RAGE. Unlike standard MP‐RAGE, which suppresses residual transverse magnetization via RF spoiling, the proposed sequence partially retains steady‐state echo pathway signals to boost tissue contrast. Multi‐shot EPI readouts provide intrinsic acceleration while maintaining controlled echo train length to minimize geometric distortion and retain spatial resolvability. Experiments were performed at 1 × 1 × 1 mm 3 isotropic resolution (FOV = 256 × 240 × 208 mm 3 , TR = 2.3 s, TI = 900 ms, partial Fourier = 7/8) with a parallel imaging factor of 2. Conventional 3D MP‐RAGE served as a reference. Results An EPI echo train length of 4 with steady‐state signal enhancement provided superior performance, enhancing gray–white matter contrast while minimizing distortion, as compared with MP‐RAGE. Specifically, the proposed method achieved a > 50% increase in contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) together with a > 3.5‐fold reduction in acquisition time (from 4 min 42 s to 1 min 15 s). The observed contrast enhancement arises from steady‐state echo pathway contributions that are normally suppressed in standard implementations. Conclusion The method enables rapid, high‐resolution T1‐weighted imaging with improved CNR and substantial time savings, offering a practical pathway toward next‐generation structural MRI.