Rapid water and lipid imaging with T₂ mapping using a radial IDEAL-GRASE technique

Three-point Dixon methods have been investigated as a means to generate water and fat images without the effects of field inhomogeneities. Recently, an iterative algorithm (IDEAL, iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least squares estimation) was combined with a gradient and spin-echo acquisition strategy (IDEAL-GRASE) to provide a time-efficient method for lipid-water imaging with correction for the effects of field inhomogeneities. The method presented in this work combines IDEAL-GRASE with radial data acquisition. Radial data sampling offers robustness to motion over Cartesian trajectories as well as the possibility of generating high-resolution T₂ maps in addition to the water and fat images. The radial IDEAL-GRASE technique is demonstrated in phantoms and in vivo for various applications including abdominal, pelvic, and cardiac imaging.