Radial single-shot STEAM MRI

Abstract

Rapid MR imaging using the stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) technique yields single-shot images without any sensitivity to resonance offset effects. However, the absence of susceptibility-induced signal voids or geometric distortions is at the expense of a somewhat lower signal-to-noise ratio than EPI. As a consequence, the achievable spatial resolution is limited when using conventional Fourier encoding. To overcome the problem, this study combined single-shot STEAM MRI with radial encoding. This approach exploits the efficient undersampling properties of radial trajectories with use of a previously developed iterative image reconstruction method that compensates for the incomplete data by incorporating a priori knowledge. Experimental results for a phantom and human brain in vivo demonstrate that radial single-shot STEAM MRI may exceed the resolution obtainable by a comparable Cartesian acquisition by a factor of four. Magn Reson Med 59:686–691, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.