(GRE - sequence) A
gradient echo is generated by us
ing a pair of bipolar
gradient pulses.
In the
pulse sequence timing diagram, the basic
gradient echo sequence is illustrated. There is no
refocusing 180° pulse and the data are sampled dur
ing a
gradient echo, which is achieved by
dephasing the sp
ins with a negatively pulsed
gradient before they are rephased by an opposite
gradient with opposite polarity to generate the
echo.
See also the
Pulse Sequence Timing Diagram. There you will f
ind a description of the components.
The
excitation pulse is termed the alpha pulse α. It tilts the
magnetization by a
flip angle α, which is typically between 0° and 90°. With a small
flip angle there is a reduction
in the value of
transverse magnetization that will affect subsequent RF pulses.
The
flip angle can also be slowly
increased dur
ing data
acquisition (variable flip angle: tilt optimized nonsaturation
excitation).
The data are not acquired
in a
steady state, where z-magnetization recovery and destruction by ad-pulses are balanced.
However, the z-magnetization is used up by tilt
ing a little more of the rema
ining z-magnetization
into the xy-plane for each acquired imag
ing l
ine.
Gradient echo imag
ing is typically accomplished by exam
ining the
FID, whereas the read
gradient is turned on for localization of the signal
in the readout direction.
T2* is the characteristic
decay time constant associated with the
FID. The
contrast and signal generated by a
gradient echo depend on the size of the
longitudinal magnetization and the
flip angle.
When α = 90° the sequence is identical to the so-called
partial saturation or
saturation recovery pulse sequence.
In standard GRE imag
ing, this basic
pulse sequence is repeated as many times as image l
ines have to be acquired.
Additional
gradients or
radio frequency pulses are
introduced with the aim to spoil to refocus the xy-magnetization at the moment when the
spin system is subject to the next α pulse.
As a result of the short
repetition time, the z-magnetization cannot fully recover and after a few
initial α pulses there is an
equilibrium established between z-magnetization recovery and z-magnetization reduction due to the α pulses.
Gradient echoes have a lower SAR, are more sensitive to field
inhomogeneities and have a reduced crosstalk, so that a small or no
slice gap can be used.
In or
out of phase imag
ing depend
ing on the selected TE (and
field strength of the
magnet) is possible.
As the
flip angle is decreased, T1 weight
ing can be ma
inta
ined by reduc
ing the TR.
T2* weight
ing can be m
inimized by keep
ing the TE as short as possible, but pure T2 weight
ing is not possible.
By us
ing a reduced
flip angle, some of the
magnetization value rema
ins longitud
inal (less time needed to achieve full recovery) and for a certa
in T1 and TR, there exist one
flip angle that will give the most signal, known as the "Ernst angle".
Contrast values:
PD weighted: Small
flip angle (no T1), long TR (no T1) and short TE (no
T2*)
T1 weighted: Large
flip angle (70°), short TR (less than 50ms) and short TE
T2* weighted: Small
flip angle, some longer TR (100 ms) and long TE (20 ms)
Classification of GRE sequences can be made into four categories:
See also
Gradient Recalled Echo Sequence,
Spoiled Gradient Echo Sequence,
Refocused Gradient Echo Sequence,
Ultrafast Gradient Echo Sequence.