Simultaneous dual-echo time-of-flight MR angiography and susceptibility-weighted imaging

Abstract

Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF MRA) and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) are routine MRI sequences for visualizing arteries and veins, respectively. Because of long scan time for each of them, MR methods have been suggested to detect both of them simultaneously, but all of them have limitations such as degradation in image quality, limited degree of freedom, or long scan time.

This dissertation mainly focuses on advancing simultaneous dual-echo TOF MRA and SWI and developing new acceleration techniques with enhanced image qualities for both of them. Firstly, a new variable-slab dual-echo TOF MRA and SWI is proposed to acquire TOF MRA as multiple overlapping thin slabs for better visualization of small arteries and acquire SWI as a single whole slab for better signal to noise ratio. Secondly, novel deep learning techniques are proposed to jointly reconstruct multi-contrast MR images from down-sampled data for acceleration of data acquisition, which can be applied to acceleration of simultaneous dual-echo TOF MRA and SWI. Lastly, a feasibility study of SNR enhancement for the simultaneous dual-echo TOF MRA and SWI through the developed neural networks is suggested.