Reduction of eddy-current-induced distortion in diffusion MRI using a twice-refocused spin echo

• Published in: Magnetic resonance in medicine Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 177 - 182
• Main Authors: Reese, T.G., Heid, O., Weisskoff, R.M., Wedeen, V.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.01.2003; Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brain - anatomy & histology; Brain - pathology; diffusion MRI; Echo-Planar Imaging - methods; eddy currents; Humans; image distortion; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Technology; Phantoms, Imaging; pulse sequence; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Stroke - diagnosis; Human; Visualization; Magnetic focusing; Distortion; Artefact; Spin echo; Image; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Image quality; artifact; Reduction; image distortion; diffusion MRI; pulse sequence; Medical imagery; eddy currents; Technique; Eddy current; Diffusion; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0740-3194; 1522-2594
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.10308

Image distortion due to field gradient eddy currents can create image artifacts in diffusion‐weighted MR images. These images, acquired by measuring the attenuation of NMR signal due to directionally dependent diffusion, have recently been shown to be useful in the diagnosis and assessment of acute stroke and in mapping of tissue structure. This work presents an improvement on the spin‐echo (SE) diffusion sequence that displays less distortion and consequently improves image quality. Adding a second refocusing pulse provides better image quality with less distortion at no cost in scanning efficiency or effectiveness, and allows more flexible diffusion gradient timing. By adjusting the timing of the diffusion gradients, eddy currents with a single exponential decay constant can be nulled, and eddy currents with similar decay constants can be greatly reduced. This new sequence is demonstrated in phantom measurements and in diffusion anisotropy images of normal human brain. Magn Reson Med 49:177–182, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.