Effective Application of Multiple Overlapping Thin-Slab Acquisition and Magnetization Transfer Contrast Pulse to Compatible Dual-Echo Arteriovenography (CODEA)

Introduction A newly introduced compatible dual-echo arteriovenography (CODEA) is a technique for simultaneous acquisition of time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiogram (MRA) and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) MR venogram (MRV). The technique improved the previous dual-echo MRA/MRV technique (1), by maximally separating the K-space center regions for the two echoes achieved through an echo-specific K-space reordering scheme and by applying scan parameters compatible between the MRA and MRV. Because of the less restriction to the RF pulse parameters (e.g., excitation RF pulse profile, flip angle, MTC pulse), MRA (first echo) and MRV (second echo) can be acquired with optimal RF pulse parameters for each K-space center region. Pursuant to the echo-specific RF pulse parameters, the multiple overlapping thin-slab acquisition (MOTSA) and MTC pulse were incorporated into the CODEA and their effectiveness was assessed on improved image quality.