Table 1:

Parameters for carotid MR imaging protocols at 3T

Parameter	T1WI With or Without Contrast Enhancement	T2WI	TOF Imaging	CE-MRA
Acquisition mode	2D	2D	3D	3D
Acquisition sequence	Fast spin-echo	Fast spin-echo	Spoiled gradient and flow compensation	Enhanced gradient recalled-echo
Blood suppression technique	Quadruple inversion recovery	Multisection double inversion recovery	Saturation veins	None
TE (ms)	11	52	3.5	1.7
TR (ms)	800	4000	23	5.5
TI (ms)	520	250	n/a	n/a
Echo-train length	10	12	n/a	n/a
Excitation flip angle (degrees)	90	90	20	30
No. of signals acquired	1	2	1
FOV^a	160 × 130 mm	160 × 120 mm	160 × 160 mm	150 mm
Matrix size	256 × 256	256 × 256	288 × 256	256 × 256
No. of sections	18	18	48	40
Section thickness (mm)	2	2	1	0.8
Coverage (mm)	36	36	44	32 mm
Imaging time (min:sec)	5:49	4:32	4:46	0:59