The Study on Signal to Noise Ratio of Single-Shot Turbo Spin Echo to Reduce Image Distortion in Brain Stem Diffusion MRI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the problems of low signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) of single-shot turbo spin echo(SS-TSE) by quantifying numerically decreased signal to noise ratio. Thirty five patients without brain disease underwent diffusion MRI in 3T scanner from July to October in 2015. Single shot echo planar imaging(SS-EPI) which is conventionally used in MRI was taken to compared SS-TSE in SNR of medulla oblongata. As a result, SNR of SS-TSE diffusion(b0=314.41±42.96, b1000=117.33±14.04) is than SS-EPI diffusion(b0=514.84±48.97, b=208.65±25.70) lower in b=0 image(38.9%) and b=1,000 image(43.8%). Thus, diffusion MR using SS-EPI of MS-EPI should be taken for diagnosis of disease in brain stem due to decreased SNR of diffusion using SS-TSE.