"Compared to the spin-echo and inversion recovery sequences, gradient echo sequences are more versatile. Not only is the basic sequence varied by adding dephasing or rephasing gradients at the end of the sequence, but there is a significant extra variable to specify in addition to the usual TR and TE. This variable is the flip or tip angle of the spins."
"Compared to the spin-echo and inversion recovery sequences, gradient echo sequences are more versatile. Not only is the basic sequence varied by adding dephasing or rephasing gradients at the end of the sequence, but there is a significant extra variable to specify in addition to the usual TR and TE. This variable is the flip or tip angle of the spins."
"The flip angle is usually at or close to 90 degrees for a spin-echo sequence but is less on gradient-echo sequences, commonly varying over a range of 10 to 80 degrees (usually denoted by α). For the basic GRE sequence FLASH, the larger flip angles give more T1 weighting to the image and the smaller flip angles give more T2, or actually T2* weighting, to the images."
"Because low flip angles are used, there is some retention of the original longitudinal magnetisation as opposed to the 90° pulse used in spin echo, which completely eliminates the longitudinal magnetisation. As a result, the build-up time for longitudinal magnetisation is significantly reduced for the subsequent pulses, allowing faster image acquisition in GE."
"Another important feature of GRE is that the dephasing of spinning protons occurs as a result of T2* decay which is more rapid than the T2 decay process underlying a spin-echo sequence (leading to shorter TE) and is susceptible to static field inhomogeneities (leading to compounded influence of degraded blood products, and metal objects on the signal)."
"Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot). The FLASH and SPGR (SPoiled Gradient-Recalled) sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example."
"Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot). The FLASH and SPGR (SPoiled Gradient-Recalled) sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example."
"Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot). The FLASH and SPGR (SPoiled Gradient-Recalled) sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example."
"Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot). The FLASH and SPGR (SPoiled Gradient-Recalled) sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example."
"A vector magnetisation diagram of the GRE sequence is shown in Figure 1. Note that the spins are refocused by reversing the direction of the spins rather than flipping them over to the other side of the x-y plane as occurs with the spin-echo sequence. Gradient refocusing of the spins takes considerably less time than 180 degree RF pulse refocusing. One big disadvantage of GRE sequences is the loss of signal from static magnetic field inhomogeneity. This occurs to a lesser degree with spin-echo sequences (and for a different reason). Magnetic susceptibility artifacts are therefore more pronounced on GRE sequences that on spin-echo sequences."
"Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot). The FLASH and SPGR (SPoiled Gradient-Recalled) sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example."
Expected headings
"Flip angle"
"Gradient echo"
"Image characteristics"
"Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot). The FLASH and SPGR (SPoiled Gradient-Recalled) sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example."
"Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot). The FLASH and SPGR (SPoiled Gradient-Recalled) sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example."
"Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot). The FLASH and SPGR (SPoiled Gradient-Recalled) sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example."
"Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot). The FLASH and SPGR (SPoiled Gradient-Recalled) sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example."