This article contains a list of commonly and less commonly used MRI pulse sequence abbreviations and their meaning. If available, an explanation is included in a separate article.
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image weighting
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spin-echo sequences
SE: spin-echo
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FSE: fast spin-echo or TSE: turbo spin-echo
SS-FSE: single shot FSE
BLADE: proprietary name for periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) in MRI systems from Siemens HealthcareTM 4
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HASTE: half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo
MS-EPI: multi shot echo planar imaging
RARE: rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement
TGSE: turbo gradient spin echo
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3D fast spin echo: isotropic 3D sequences, allowing multiplanar reformats
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gradient echo sequences (GRE)
SSFP: steady-state free precession
TRUFI: true fast imaging with steady-state free precession
true FISP: fast imaging with steady-state free precession
PSIF: reverse FISP
DESS: dual echo steady state
FLASH: fast low angle shot
GRASS: gradient recalled acquisition in the steady-state
SPGR: spoiled gradient recalled
VIBE: volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination, volumetric interpolated brain examination
CISS: constructive interference in steady-state
FIESTA: fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition
MERGE: multiple echo recombined gradient echo
MEDIC: multi-echo data image combination
BOLD imaging: blood oxygen level-dependent imaging (see SS-EPI below)
SS-EPI: single shot echo planar imaging (preferred technique for BOLD imaging at 3 tesla and below)
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inversion recovery (IR) sequences:
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MR angiography (MRA):
TOF: time of flight
MOTSA: multiple overlapping thin slab acquisitions
phase contrast
TWIST: time-resolved angiography with stochastic trajectories
TRICKS: time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics
TRAK: time-resolved angiography using keyhole
TRAQ: time-resolved acquisition
TRANCE: triggered angiography non-contrast enhanced
SWAN: susceptibility weighted angiography
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MR spectroscopy:
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general techniques:
CLEAR: Constant LEvel AppeaRance