Phased array ghost elimination (PAGE) for segmented SSFP imaging with interrupted steady‐state

Abstract

Steady‐state free precession (SSFP) has recently proven to be valuable for cardiac imaging due to its high signal‐to‐noise ratio and blood‐myocardium contrast. Data acquired using ECG‐triggered, segmented sequences during the approach to steady‐state, or return to steady‐state after interruption, may have ghost artifacts due to periodic k‐space distortion. Schemes involving several preparatory RF pulses have been proposed to restore steady‐state, but these consume imaging time during early systole. Alternatively, the phased‐array ghost elimination (PAGE) method may be used to remove ghost artifacts from the first several frames. PAGE was demonstrated for cardiac cine SSFP imaging with interrupted steady‐state using a simple alpha/2 magnetization preparation and storage scheme and a spatial tagging preparation. Magn Reson Med 48:1076–1080, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.