Optimizing data sampling pattern and analysis algorithm in T2-based water suppression diffusion MRI (T2wsup-dMRI)

Motivation: It is very important to suppress CSF partial-volume effects in tissue-specific quantitative parameters of T2, T1, PD, ADC, and FA etc. in brain MRI. Goal(s): To assess and confirm the optimal method to improve the accuracy and precision of quantitative parameters in our proposed method of T2wsup-dMRI. Approach: Evaluated the tissue SNRs of quantitative parameters for in-vivo brain MRI data with the several combinations of data sampling pattern in (TE, b) space and analysis algorithm. Results: The combination of Triangle-pattern and 2d-single and bi-exponential combined LSQ fitting (2dSi&BiExpLSQ) was the best from the views of SNR, hardware, and computing costs. Impact: The combination of Triangle sampling pattern and 2dSi&BiExpLSQ fitting algorithm in T2wsup-dMRI provides high quality maps with minimum hardware and computing costs for obtaining multi-quantitative parameter mapping especially in clinical brain diffusion MRI.