The impact of spin coupling signal loss on fat content characterization in multi-echo acquisitions with different echo spacing

• Published in: Magnetic resonance imaging Vol. 38; pp. 6 - 12
• Main Authors: Nikiforaki, K., Manikis, G.C., Boursianis, T., Marias, K., Karantanas, A., Maris, T.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.05.2017
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - diagnostic imaging; Echo spacing; Fat content; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Phantoms, Imaging; Spin coupling; T2 relaxometry; Water; Spin coupling; ESP; Echo spacing; J coupling; Fat content; T2 relaxometry; T2-w
• ISSN: 0730-725X; 1873-5894
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2016.12.011

This study aimed to assess the effect of echo spacing in transverse magnetization (T2) signal decay of gel and fat (oil) samples. Additionally, we assess the feasibility of using spin coupling as a determinant of fat content. Phantoms of known T2 values, as well as vegetable oil phantoms, were scanned at 1.5T scanner with a multi echo FSE sequence of variable echo spacing above and below the empirical threshold of 20ms for echo train signal modulation (6.7, 13.6, 26.8, and 40ms). T2 values were calculated from monoexponential fitting of the data. Relative signal loss between the four acquisitions of different echo spacing was calculated. Agreement in the T2 values of water gel phantom was observed in all acquisitions as opposed to fat phantom (oil) samples. Relative differences in signal intensity between two successive sequences of different echo spacing on composite fat/water regions of interest was found to be linearly correlated to fat fraction of the ROI. The sample specific degree of signal loss that was observed between different fat samples (vegetable oils) can be attributed to the composition of each sample in J coupled fat components. Hence, spin coupling may be used as a determinant of fat content.