Interleaved Flow-Sensitive Dephasing: Towards Enhanced Blood Flow Suppression and Preserved T1 Weighting and Overall Signals in 3D TSE Imaging

Motivation: The intrinsic “black-blood (BB)” property in 3D TSE is insufficient for vessel wall imaging and other neuroimaging applications. Additional blood suppression preparations can diminish T1 weighting and SNR. Goal(s): To develop and validate a new approach compatible with 3D TSE to enhance BB effects while minimizing sacrifice in T1 weighting and overall SNR. Approach: An interleaved flow-sensitive dephasing scheme was developed, and verified in healthy volunteers and assessed in 32 patients with one of four neurological diseases. Results: iFSD-SPACE achieved the lowest lumen SNR and the highest wall-lumen CNR. iFSD-SPACE yielded significantly higher white-matter SNR and gray-to-white matter CNR than DANTE and MSDE. Impact: iFSD is a 3D TSE-compatible blood flow suppression technique that overcomes the limitations of existing BB magnetization preparation methods and holds the potential to greatly enhance the performance of 3D TSE in several neuroimaging applications.