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library:spine_deep_dive [2025/06/18 02:55] – scottlibrary:spine_deep_dive [2025/06/18 02:55] (current) – [I need thinner slices! What can I do?] scott
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 Below are some commonly available sequences, with their vendor specific names, where to find them, caveats, and advantages: Below are some commonly available sequences, with their vendor specific names, where to find them, caveats, and advantages:
  
-==Balanced Steady State Free Precession with Phase Cycling (FIESTA-C, CISS)==+===Balanced Steady State Free Precession with Phase Cycling (FIESTA-C, CISS)===
  
 Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in an IAC protocol, occasionally spine. Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in an IAC protocol, occasionally spine.
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 Advantages: Very high inherent SNR; it's possible to get really high resolution or very thin slices. It can be run isotropically for reformats. Bright fluid contrast can help with anatomic information Advantages: Very high inherent SNR; it's possible to get really high resolution or very thin slices. It can be run isotropically for reformats. Bright fluid contrast can help with anatomic information
  
-==RF Spoiled Fast Gradient Echo (FLASH, FSPGR)==+===RF Spoiled Fast Gradient Echo (FLASH, FSPGR)===
  
 Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in a brain protocol Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in a brain protocol
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 Advantages: Pretty robust sequences with relatively high inherent SNR. There are usually different fat saturation options available such as SPECIAL/SPAIR which can be more homogenous and less time intensive that regular FatSat options. The grey/white matter contrast is superior to FSE Advantages: Pretty robust sequences with relatively high inherent SNR. There are usually different fat saturation options available such as SPECIAL/SPAIR which can be more homogenous and less time intensive that regular FatSat options. The grey/white matter contrast is superior to FSE
  
-==RF Spoiled Fast Gradient Echo with k space modifications (LAVA, VIBE)==+===RF Spoiled Fast Gradient Echo with k space modifications (LAVA, VIBE)===
  
 Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in a routine liver protocol Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in a routine liver protocol
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 Advantages: These are really designed to run for speed more than anything else, so they'll be faster the FSPGR/FLASH. Reserve this for some thing incidental in the soft tissues outside the spine. Advantages: These are really designed to run for speed more than anything else, so they'll be faster the FSPGR/FLASH. Reserve this for some thing incidental in the soft tissues outside the spine.
  
-==3D Fast Spin Echo (CUBE, SPACE)==+===3D Fast Spin Echo (CUBE, SPACE)===
  
 Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in a spine or brain protocol Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in a spine or brain protocol
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 Advantages: Very high SNR, these can be run isotropically or with very thin slices. Due to the long ETL and varying flip angle intravascular signal will be dark, which is excellent for vessel wall imaging  ruling out vessel vs. lesion. True T2 weighting can be achieved with a higher TE ~120, though keep the ETL a bit shorter than the out of the box parameters. If using a STIR, consider running it post contrast! This will suppress intravascular signal and help visualize nerves. Advantages: Very high SNR, these can be run isotropically or with very thin slices. Due to the long ETL and varying flip angle intravascular signal will be dark, which is excellent for vessel wall imaging  ruling out vessel vs. lesion. True T2 weighting can be achieved with a higher TE ~120, though keep the ETL a bit shorter than the out of the box parameters. If using a STIR, consider running it post contrast! This will suppress intravascular signal and help visualize nerves.
  
-==Multi Echo GRE (MERGE, MEDIC)==+===Multi Echo GRE (MERGE, MEDIC)===
  
 Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in a cervical spine protocol Where to find: Most vendors have this saved in a cervical spine protocol