Assessment and compensation of susceptibility artifacts in gradient echo MRI of hyperpolarized 3He gas

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Abstract
The effects of macroscopic background field gradients upon 2D gradient echo images of inhaled 3He in the human lung were investigated at 1.5 T. Effective compensation of in-slice signal loss in 3He gradient echo images was then demonstrated using a multiple acquisition interleaved single gradient echo sequence. This method restores signal dephasing through a combination of separate images acquired with different slice refocusing gradients. In vivo imaging of volunteers with the sequence shows substantial restoration of signal at the lung periphery and close to blood vessels. The technique presented may be useful when using 3He MRI for volumetric measurements of lung ventilation and in studies using 3He combined with intravenous contrast as a means of assessing lung ventilation/perfusion (V/Q). Magn Reson Med 50:417–422, 2003.