Accelerated 3D isotropic multi-echo UTE using CG-SENSE and Deep Learning Reconstruction for CT-like Imaging & Ultrashort T2* Mapping

Motivation: MRI provides superior soft-tissue contrast, however, cortical bone and ultrashort-T2* tissues are invisible in routine clinical MRI. Multi-echo Ultrashort TE (mecho-UTE) may allow visualization and quantification of bone and ultrashort-T2* tissues, however, its acquisition time is often long. Goal(s): We used CG-SENSE and Deep Learning Reconstruction (CG-SENSE+DLR) to accelerate mecho-UTE, making it clinically feasible. Approach: 5-min, 3-min, and 2-min mecho-UTE scans were prospectively acquired and reconstructed with Gridding and CG-SENSE+DLR. Resolution, sharpness, and T2* were measured and compared. Results: CG-SENSE+DLR allows 2- and 3-min mecho-UTE with improved resolution and sharpness compared to 5-min mecho-UTE with Gridding reconstruction. Impact: Routine MRI and mecho-UTE enable comprehensive MSK imaging, providing soft-tissue contrast and visualization-and-quantification of bone and ultrashort-T2* tissues. CG-SENSE+DLR allows accelerated 2- and 3-minunte mecho-UTE, which would enable widespread clinical utilization to demonstrate the value of mecho-UTE compared to CT.