Description:
<jats:sec><jats:title>Purpose</jats:title><jats:p>To obtain T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub><jats:sup>*</jats:sup> and T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐weighted images as well as quantitative T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub><jats:sup>*</jats:sup>, T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, and susceptibility maps with a novel, silent 3D imaging method, which combines zero‐echo‐time (ZTE) imaging with gradient‐ and spin‐echo BURST encoding.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>After a segment of standard ZTE encoding with multiple 3D radial k‐space spokes, the direction of traversing k‐space is reversed while excitation is switched off. This recalls gradient echoes for each spoke/excitation. This results in multiple images: one FID image from ZTE and multiple BURST echo images at different echo times weighted by a T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub><jats:sup>*</jats:sup> decay. By adding a pair of 180° pulses with an appropriate wait period, it is also possible to obtain spin echoes, leading to T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐weighted images. Data is reconstructed using standard 3D gridding and Fourier transformation. In vivo feasibility was demonstrated by imaging the brain of multiple healthy volunteers.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>It is possible to acquire high‐quality T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub><jats:sup>*</jats:sup>‐ and T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐weighted brain images in a silent manner. From images acquired with gradient‐echo ZTE‐BURST, it is possible to extract quantitative T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub><jats:sup>*</jats:sup> and magnetic susceptibility maps, whereas the spin echo version yields T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> maps.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>ZTE combined with BURST enables silent acquisition of T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub><jats:sup>*</jats:sup>‐ and T<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐weighted images with good image quality.</jats:p></jats:sec>