Volumetric Renal Perfusion Imaging with pCASL – Comparison of 3D TSE and 3D GraSE Readout

Recent consensus recommended SE-EPI as the preferred readout for 2D single-slice renal perfusion imaging using pCASL. Compared to single-slice 2D acquisition, 3D acquisitions can achieve higher SNR, larger slice coverage, and optimal background suppression in similar scan times. In this study, we compared 3D GRASE, the recommended 3D readout for brain perfusion imaging, with an optimized 3D TSE readout using Cartesian acquisition with spiral profile reordering and Variable Density Sampling (VD-CASPR) in 4 healthy volunteers for volumetric renal perfusion imaging. Results showed that 3D pCASL with TSE VD-CASPR is more robust and has higher SNR than 3D pCASL with GRASE.