Neuroscientists and clinicians including neurologists and neuroradiologists interested in the development and application of rapid brain MRI imaging

At the end of this talk, the audience should:

- be familiar with the currently available methodology for fast brain MR imaging

- Know how to obtain a routine brain MRI examination in 5 minutes

- Know how to perform and interpret a 6-minute comprehensive stroke MR imaging

- be familiar with the latest development on synthetic MRI

The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of evolving MR methodology for fast brain MR imaging. Latest development on new MR technology including higher magnetic field, faster gradient performance and multi-coil technology will be discussed briefly and in particular their mutual role in support of fast imaging tools.

Subsequently fast imaging tools including Simultaneous Multislice Echo Planar Imaging 1, Compressed Sensing2, parallel imaging techniques such as GRAPPA or controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) 3 echo-sharing such as time-resolved angiography with stochastic trajectories (TWIST) 4 will be discussed briefly. We will review how these applications can be used to accelerate acquisition time while maintaining adequate diagnostic image quality, spatial and temporal resolution.

By using fast imaging tools, common commercially available sequences can be optimized to provide diagnostic added value acquisitions and processing steps to accelerate routine brain MR examination to “5-minute” acquisition time. We will review “5-minute” brain MR scans with 2 perspectives:

1) “Speed focus”: in this approach the goal is to obtain required information from a routine brain MRI by accelerating image acquisition without sacrificing diagnostic image quality. This application is important in evaluation of patients who can not hold still for a long time in the MR scanner or very sick patients such as those in in-patient setting (for example patients in intensive care units) who cannot follow commands or unsafe to be in the MR scanner for a long period of time.

2) “Clinical need focus” in this approach the brain MR protocol is tailored to address a specific need and provide all required information for a specific pathology. We highlight a comprehensive stroke MR protocol that is obtained in 6 minutes 5. We review our initial results and clinical experience on use of this fast MR stroke protocol. We also review some clinical cases who had both fast (6-minute) and conventional stroke protocols to provide side-by-side comparative analysis and will review how to interpret these studies.

Finally we visit the topic of “synthetic MRI”6. In synthetic MRI, acquiring a multi-dynamic multi-echo acquisition enables the imagers to control imaging parameters retrospectively and synthesize variety of MR contrasts such as T1, T2, PD, IR. We will review image acquisition methodology currently used and some of the clinical applications of synthetic MRI such as shorter total exam time and potential for quantitative analysis.