Dependence on T1 of the echo amplitudes from multiple spin-echo sequences with equidistant echoes: simulation studies

Abstract

Transverse relaxation times were estimated from numerical simulations on spin systems using multi-echo spin-echo MRI protocols. The influence of T1 on the echo amplitudes via stimulated echo components was studied. The resulting effects on T2 estimates from the Carr-Purcell (CP), Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG), and Phase-Alternating-Phase-Shift (PHAPS; combination of CP and CPMG), multiple echo schemes were examined. Protocols with either spatially selective or nonselective refocusing pulses were studied. An intravoxel static field inhomogeneity of 0.1, 1, and 10 ppm was stimulated. The dependence on T1 of the T2 estimates was notable for T1 values below approximately 800 msec for all protocols. The PHAPS scheme provided rather accurate, but underestimated, T2 values when selective refocusing was used. With nonselective refocusing, PHAPS T2 values were overestimated and demonstrated a pronounced dependence on magnetic field inhomogeneity. In general, long T2 values were erroneous with the PHAPS protocol. The results indicate that a CPMG protocol structure provides a more robust method for T2 estimations than the PHAPS protocol.