Pulse Sequences and Reconstruction in Fast MR Imaging of the Liver

The liver moves with respiratory motion. Respiratory motion causes image artifacts as MRI is a motion-sensitive imaging modality; thus, MRI scan speed improvement has been an important technical development target for liver MRI for years. Recent pulse sequence and image reconstruction technology advancement has realized a fast liver MRI acquisition method. Such new technologies allow us to obtain liver MRI in a shorter time, particularly, within breath-holding time. Other benefits of new the technology and the higher spatial resolution liver MRI within a given scan time are improved slice coverage and smaller pixel size. In this review, MRI pulse sequence and reconstruction technologies to accelerate scan speed for T(1)- and T(2)-weighted liver MRI will be discussed. Technologies that reduce scan time while keeping image contrast, SNR and image spatial resolution are needed for fast MRI acquisition. We will discuss the progress of MRI acquisition methods, the enabling technology, established applications, current trends, and the future outlook.