Motivation: MR Fingerprinting (MRF) is a prominent quantitative MRI technique known for its rapid and high-resolution data acquisition; however, it often demonstrates reduced accuracy in T2 quantification relative to T1. Goal(s): To enhance T2 robustness to B0 and B1 inhomogeneities and mitigate motion artifacts. Approach: Combined with B0, B1, and motion estimation, T2 preparation modules were integrated into a previously developed 3D FISP-MRF sequence to enhance T2 encoding, with Cramér-Rao Lower Bound optimization applied to both T2prep and flip angle (FA) parameters for further optimization. Results: Phantom studies revealed enhanced T2 accuracy, while in-vivo studies demonstrated improved resilience to motion artifacts and B0/B1 inhomogeneities. Impact: The improved T2 quantification accuracy and robustness to motion artifacts and field inhomogeneities could significantly enhance the reliability of MRF in both clinical and research settings.
Zhou et al. (Tue,) studied this question.