Improved Structural Neuro-MRI with Triple TSE-based Synthetic MP-RAGE

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a metal-artifact robust triple turbo-spin-echo (TSE)-based synthetic MP-RAGE method. Methods: T1, T2 and PD maps generated from triple TSE, two MP-RAGE image sets simulated by the Bloch equation, and FreeSurfer brain segmentation were performed on 44 participants at age of fifteen. Results: Reduced artifact and homogenous synthetic MP-RAGE images were produced in orthodontic brace-wearing subjects. Comparable image contrast and FreeSurfer brain segmentation results were observed between synthetic and acquired MP-RAGE in normal subjects. Conclusion: Triple TSE based synthetic MP-RAGE may enhance conventional MP-RAGE in the neuroimaging studies of orthodontic brace-wearing subjects with reduced metal artifacts.