Spin echo magnetic resonance imaging

• Published in: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging Vol. 37; no. 4; pp. 805 - 817
• Main Authors: Jung, Bernd André, Weigel, Matthias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.04.2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Contrast Media - administration & dosage; Echo-Planar Imaging - methods; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Magnetic Fields; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Physics; proton density; Protons; relaxation; Sensitivity and Specificity; spin echo
• ISSN: 1053-1807; 1522-2586
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.24068

The spin echo sequence is a fundamental pulse sequence in MRI. Many of today's applications in routine clinical use are based on this elementary sequence. In this review article, the principles of the spin echo formation are demonstrated on which the generation of the fundamental image contrasts T1, T2, and proton density is based. The basic imaging parameters repetition time (TR) and echo time (TE) and their influence on the image contrast are explained. Important properties such as the behavior in multi‐slice imaging or in the presence of flow are depicted and the basic differences with gradient echo imaging are illustrated. The characteristics of the spin echo sequence for different magnetic field strengths with respect to clinical applications are discussed. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:805–817. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.