Resolution enhancement in lung 1H imaging using parallel imaging methods

Abstract

Resolution in 1H lung imaging is limited mainly by the acquisition time. Today, half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spinecho (HASTE) sequences, with short echo time (TE) and short interecho spacing (Tinter) have found increased use in lung imaging. In this study, a HASTE sequence was used in combination with a partially parallel acquisition (PPA) strategy to increase the spatial resolution in single-shot 1H lung imaging. To investigate the benefits of using a combination of single-shot sequences and PPA, five healthy volunteers were examined. Compared to conventional imaging methods, substantially increased resolution is obtained using the PPA approach. Representative in vivo 1H lung images acquired with a HASTE sequence in combination with the generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA) method, up to an acceleration factor of three, are presented. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.