The effect of and correction for through-slice dephasing on 2D gradient-echo double angle mapping.

Purpose: To show that variations through slice and slice profile effects are two major confounders affecting 2D dual angle maps using gradient-echo signals and thus need to be corrected to obtain accurate maps.

Methods: The 2D gradient-echo transverse complex signal was Bloch-simulated and integrated across the slice dimension including nonlinear variations in inhomogeneities through slice. A nonlinear least squares fit was used to find the factor corresponding to the best match between the two gradient-echo signals experimental ratio and the Bloch-simulated ratio. The correction was validated in phantom and in vivo at 3T.

Results: For our RF excitation pulse, the error in the factor scales by approximately 3.8% for every 10 Hz/cm variation in along the slice direction. Higher accuracy phantom maps were obtained after applying the proposed correction; the root mean square error relative to the gold standard decreased from 6.4% to 2.6%. In vivo whole-liver maps using the corrected map registered a significant decrease in gradient through slice.

Conclusion: inhomogeneities varying through slice were seen to have an impact on the accuracy of 2D double angle maps using gradient-echo sequences. Consideration of this confounder is crucial for research relying on accurate knowledge of the true excitation flip angles, as is the case of mapping using a spoiled gradient recalled echo sequence.