Flexible Echo Time Selection for In-Phase-like Body QSM Acquisitions

Motivation: Gradient echo imaging using in-phase echoes has been proposed to simplify the fieldmap estimation in water–fat regions. The use of so-called effective multi-peak in-phase echo times allow for the bias-free QSM estimation in body regions in the presence of complex fat-models. Conventionally, the in-phase paradigm rigidly constrains the selection of echo times, often balancing acquisition speed, resolution, and SNR against one another. Goal(s): . Approach: . Results: This study demonstrates the feasibility of a nearly unrestricted selection of the first echo time, without introducing significant quantification bias. This advance allows for a more flexible and efficient imaging process. Impact: This work introduces a simple, flexible and bias-free body QSM acquisition strategy based on so-called pseudo in-phase echos that allows for considerably faster acquisitions while simultaneously increasing the SNR efficiancy