Table 2 Sequences used for lung MRI
Sequence type | Features or variations | Vendor–specific acronyms | Respiration manoeuvre | Spatial resolution | Temporal resolution | Particular use for lung MRI (pathology) | Protocol suggestiona | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Siemens | Philips | GE | Hitachi | Toshiba | (Typical acquisition time) | (Typical pixel size) | (s per slice or volume) | ||||
3D gradient echo T1-weighted | Volume interpolation (ce with fat saturation) | VIBE | THRIVE | LAVA | TIGRE | Quick3D | Breath–hold (21 s) | High (1.5 × 1.5 mm) | Low | Pulmonary nodules, masses, airways | G, T, V |
Max. spatial resolution for angiography | Flash 3D | FFE | SPGR | RF spoiled SARGE | FE, FFE | Breath-hold (21 s) | High (1.2 × 1 mm) | Low | High resolution angiogram (embolism AVM) | V | |
Echo sharing | TWIST | TRAK | TRICKS | TRAQ | DRKS | Breath-hold or shallow breathing | Low (3.5 × 2 mm) | High (< 1.5 s/vol) | First pass lung perfusion (embolism, hypoxic vasoconstriction) | V, (T) | |
Fast spin echo T2-weighted | Half Fourier acquisition | HASTE | Halfscan FSE | ½ NEX FSE | Half scan Single shot FSE | AFI RO | Multiple breath-hold (2 × 20 s) | Low (1.8 × 1.8 mm) | High | Infiltrates | G, T |
Rotating phase encoding | BLADE | MultiVane | PROPELLER | RADAR | JET | Multiple breath hold (4-5 × 20 s) | Moderate (1.8 × 1.5 mm) | Moderate | Nodules and masses | G, T | |
Respir. triggered, high res. | TSE-rt | TSE | FSE | FSE | FSE | Respiration triggered (5-10 min) | Moderate-high (1.3 × 1 mm) | Low | Masses | (G), (T) | |
Fat saturated | TSE fs BLADE fs | TSE fs or MultiVane | FSE fs or PROPELLER | FSE fs or RADAR | FSE fs or JET fs | Multiple breath-hold(4-5 × 20 s) or respiration triggered (4-8 min) | Moderate (1.8 × 1.5 mm) | Moderate | Lymph nodes bone metastases | G, T | |
Short tau inversion recovery | Fast spin echo | STIR | STIR | STIR | STIR | STIR | |||||
Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) | Echo planar imaging or other fast technique | REVEAL (DWI) | DWIBS (DWI) | Whole Body Diffusion (DWI) | DWI | Body Vision (DWI) | Multiple breath-hold (3-4 × 20 s) or respiration triggered (4-5 min) | Low (3 × ×2 mm) | Low | Nodules and masses | T |
Steady state GRE | T1/T2 contrast | TrueFISP | bFFE | FIESTA | BASG | TrueSSFP | Free breathing (60 s) or instructed br. manoeuvres | Moderate (2.4 × 1.6 mm) | High (< 0.5 s/sl.) | Pulmonary embolism | G, T, V |
Respiration mechanics | T | ||||||||||