Feasibility of susceptibility separation using single-echo gradient-echo and MPRAGE

Motivation: Susceptibility separation enables exploring sub-voxel contributions of iron/myelin but requires multi-echo gradient-echo to calculate the R2* map. Extending its applicability to single-echo measurements such as in SWI-focused studies, would allow wider usage. Goal(s): To develop and validate at 3T an approach that produces brain para- and diamagnetic maps from SWI with information from MPRAGE images typically collected for structural imaging. Approach: R2* was estimated from SWI and MPRAGE using Bloch simulations, followed by production of para- and diamagnetic maps using calculated R2* and R2 maps, and SWI phase. Results: Comparable maps to those produced from multi-echo images were obtained. Impact: The proposed method enables producing para- and diamagnetic maps from SWI studies, with the possibility of retrospective application if SWI raw phase and T1w images exist.