3D balanced SSFP UTE MRI for multiple contrasts whole brain imaging

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to develop a new high‐resolution MRI sequence for the imaging of the ultra‐short transverse relaxation time (uT 2 ) components in the brain, while simultaneously providing proton density (PD) contrast for reference and quantification. Theory The sequence combines low flip angle balanced SSFP (bSSFP) and UTE techniques, together with a 3D dual‐echo rosette k‐space trajectory for readout. Methods The expected image contrast was evaluated by simulations. A study cohort of six healthy volunteers and eight multiple sclerosis (MS) patients was recruited to test the proposed sequence. Subtraction between two TEs was performed to extract uT 2 signals. In addition, conventional longitudinal relaxation time (T 1 ) weighted, T 2 ‐weighted, and PD‐weighted MRI sequences were also acquired for comparison. Results Typical PD‐contrast was found in the second TE images, while uT 2 signals were selectively captured in the first TE images. The subtraction images presented signals primarily originating from uT 2 components, but only if the first TE is short enough. Lesions in the MS subjects showed hyperintense signals in the second TE images but were hypointense signals in the subtraction images. The lesions had significantly lower signal intensity in subtraction images than normal white matter (WM), which indicated a reduction of uT 2 components likely associated with myelin. Conclusion 3D isotropic sub‐millimeter (0.94 mm) spatial resolution images were acquired with the novel bSSFP UTE sequence within 3 min. It provided easy extraction of uT 2 signals and PD‐contrast for reference within a single acquisition.