(GRAPPA) GRAPPA is a
parallel imaging technique to speed up
MRI pulse
sequences. The Fourier plane of the image is reconstructed from the frequency signals of each coil (
reconstruction in the frequency domain).
Parallel imaging techniques like GRAPPA, auto-SMASH and VD-AUTO-SMASH are
second and third generation
algorithms using
k-space undersampling. A model from a part of the center of
k-space is acquired, to find the coefficients of the signals from each coil element, and to reconstruct the missing intermediary lines. The acquisition of these additional lines is a form of self-calibration, which lengthens the overall short
scan time. The acquisition of these
k-space lines provides mapping of the whole field as well as data for the image contrast.
Algorithms of the GRAPPA type work better than the
SENSE type in heterogeneous body parts like thoracic or
abdominal imaging, or in pulse
sequences like
echo planar imaging. This is caused by differences between the sensitivity map and the
pulse sequence (e.g. artifacts) or an unreliable sensitivity map.