Arterial spin labeling with simultaneous multi-slice echo planar imaging.

Purpose Simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) echo planar imaging (EPI) is incorporated into two-dimensional (2D) arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging to produce more slices for measuring perfusion in a larger region of the brain than currently possible with multi-slice EPI. Methods Pulsed ASL (PASL) preparations using FAIR and QUIPSS II techniques were combined with SMS-EPI. Testing was performed in four subjects at 3 Tesla. Multiband slice acceleration factors (MB) from MB-2 to MB-5 using 40 averages were evaluated. Comparisons were made quantitatively to PASL 2D EPI and qualitatively to PASL 3D GRASE. Results In the 12 slice data set, spatial SNR for the perfusion weighted images averaged across subjects was 3.28 and 3.44 for the two sequential MB-1 acquisitions as control comparison, 3.25 for MB-2 and 2.98 for MB-3. The temporal SNR averaged 1.01 and 0.99 for MB-1, 0.89 for MB-2, and 0.78 for MB-3. For whole-brain spatial coverage, the 20 slice data sets could be acquired in narrower time windows, from 874 ms using EPI (MB-1) down to 196 ms using MB-5. SMS-EPI ASL differed from 3D GRASE ASL, which can use background suppression and has less susceptibility artifact as a CPMG SE sequence. Conclusion SMS-EPI has a major advantage over EPI-based ASL imaging by increasing slice coverage without lengthening the acquisition time window. Magn Reson Med 70:1500–1506, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.