Clinical comparison of three‐dimensional MP‐RAGE and FLASH techniques for MR imaging of the head

Three‐dimensional (3D) MP‐RAGE (magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient‐echo) imaging was evaluated as a high‐resolution 3D T1‐weighted brain imaging technique for patients with suspected neurologic disease. Fourteen patients were studied. In five, 3D MP‐RAGE images were compared with 3D FLASH (fast low‐angle shot) images. Signal difference‐to‐noise ratios and T1 contrast were not statistically different for 3D MP‐RAGE images as opposed to 3D FLASH images. Advantages intrinsic to the application of 3D MP‐RAGE sequences include decreased imaging time and decreased motion artifact. With this technique, it is possible to perform a relatively motion‐insensitive, T1‐weighted screening brain study with voxel resolution of 1.0 × 1.4 × 2.0 mm or smaller, in an imaging time of 5.9 minutes or less‐permitting offline (poststudy) reconstruction of high‐resolution images in any desired plane.

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