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Gradient Echo-Based Families

Learn about the Gradient Echo-Based Families, which are gradient-refocused sequences intrinsically sensitive to T2* effects.

Gradient Echo (GRE)

  • Design: Gradient refocusing without 180° RF pulses.
  • Key characteristics: Fast acquisition; flexible contrast; sensitive to susceptibility and T2* effects.
  • Clinical applications: Dynamic imaging, angiography, susceptibility imaging.
  • Vendors:
    • GE: SPGR
    • Siemens: FLASH
    • Philips: T1-FFE
    • Canon: GRE
    • Fujifilm: GRE

Spoiled Gradient Echo Multi-Echo (GRE-ME)

  • Design: Multiple gradient echoes acquired within a single TR.
  • Key characteristics: Echo combination improves SNR; T2* sensitivity.
  • Clinical applications: Spine and musculoskeletal imaging.
  • Vendors:
    • GE: SPGR-ME
    • Siemens: FLASH-ME
    • Philips: FFE-ME
    • Canon: GRE-ME
    • Fujifilm: GRE-ME

Gradient Echo – Out of phase

  • Design: Dual-echo GRE acquiring in-phase and opposed-phase images.
  • Key characteristics: Sensitive to microscopic fat content.
  • Clinical applications: Liver fat and bone marrow assessment.
  • Vendors: All vendors In/Out Phase.

DIXON

  • Design: Multi-echo spoiled GRE with phase-based fat–water separation (2-point based).
  • Key characteristics: Robust fat suppression; reduced B₀ sensitivity.
  • Clinical applications: Musculoskeletal imaging, hepatic steatosis.
  • Vendors:
    • GE: IDEAL
    • Siemens: Dixon
    • Philips: mDIXON
    • Canon: Dixon
    • Fujifilm: Dixon

Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI-GRE-2D)

  • Design: Spoiled GRE combining magnitude and phase information.
  • Key characteristics: Extremely sensitive to susceptibility differences.
  • Clinical applications: Microbleeds, iron deposition, vascular malformations.
  • Vendors:
    • GE: SWAN
    • Siemens: SWI
    • Philips: SWI
    • Canon: SWI
    • Fujifilm: SWI

Three Dimensional (3D) Gradient Recalled Echo (3D GRE)

  • Design: Slab-selective 3D spoiled GRE acquisition.
  • Key characteristics: High spatial resolution; fast volumetric imaging.
  • Clinical applications: Volumetric imaging, contrast-enhanced studies.
  • Vendors:
    • GE: 3D SPGR
    • Siemens: 3D FLASH
    • Philips: 3D FFE
    • Canon: 3D GRE
    • Fujifilm: 3D GRE

MP-RAGE

  • Design: Multi-shot inversion-recovery–prepared 3D spoiled GRE.
  • Key characteristics: High-resolution isotropic T1-weighted contrast; strong gray–white matter differentiation.
  • Clinical applications: Volumetric brain imaging, neuroanatomy assessment.
  • Vendors:
    • GE: BRAVO
    • Siemens: MP-RAGE
    • Philips: TFE-IR
    • Canon: IR-GRE
    • Fujifilm: IR-GRE