Principles and Clinical Applications of Gradient-Echo Pulse Sequences - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

초록

Gradient-echo (GRE) sequences form echoes by reversing gradient-induced dephasing without a 180 degrees refocusing RF pulse, enabling rapid image acquisition with short repetition time (TR) and echo time (TE). Because static field inhomogeneity and susceptibility effects are not refocused, GRE signals are sensitive to T2* decay. This paper first reviews the signal formation mechanism of GRE from a k-space perspective, then proposes a classification framework based on transverse-coherence handling across repeated RF cycles and on the steady-state signal components that contribute to image formation, and finally summarizes the clinical applications of each sequence family in a systematic manner. The proposed classification and summary may serve as a useful reference for selecting and applying GRE imaging techniques.

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