Perfusion magnetic resonance imaging of the liver

Table 1 Illustrative example of a perfusion MRI sequence performed on a 1.5 T MR platform

MRI platform	Avanto (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany)
Type of pulse sequence	3D FLASH
TR	2.72 ms
TE	1 ms
Partition thickness	8 mm
Slices per slab	10
Matrix	256 × 159
Phase encode direction	Anterior to posterior
Number of averages	1
Sensitivity encoding factor	2
Flip angle before contrast	2º and 14º
Flip angle after contrast	14º
Bandwidth	490 Hz
RF spoiling	Yes
Temporal resolution	1.98 s per slab of 10 slices.
Precontrast scans	10 measurements of each flip angle averaged for calculation of native T1
Gadolinium injection	0.2 mmol/kg at 3 mL/s followed by 20 mL flush
Patient respiration	Quiet breathing
Post contrast scans	A total of 180 consecutive measurements. Inject contrast only when the 20th measurement has been completed
Scan sections to use for processing	Center 6 image sections only

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging; FLASH: Fast low-angle shot; TR: repetition time; TE: Echo time.