Multi-echo spin-, asymmetric spin-, and gradient-echo echo-planar imaging MRI pulse sequence

A method of performing echo-planar imaging, comprising:

• generating a quadruple echo gradient and spin echo echo-planar imaging pulse sequence, comprising a total of four echo trains, for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system configured for generating MRI images of a patient in response to receiving and processing RF signals;
• driving a radio frequency coil and magnetic resonance gradient coils with said quadruple echo gradient and spin echo echo-planar imaging pulse sequence within the MRI system;
• wherein signals received from each scan performed with said quadruple echo gradient and spin echo echo-planar imaging pulse sequence results in generation of four images, each having different contrasts, and an in-plane resolution with a reduced voxel size based on the four echo trains;
• wherein said quadruple echo gradient and spin echo echo-planar imaging pulse sequence is generated as two echo trains between a 90 degrees excitation pulse and a 180 degrees refocusing pulse to achieve two gradient echo images as T2*-weighted images and two echo trains after the 180° pulse;
• wherein the two echo trains after the 180° pulse of said quadruple echo gradient and spin echo echo-planar imaging pulse sequence are generated with one echo train directly after the 180° pulse, leading to asymmetric spin echo images as T2′-weighted images, and a last echo train of the four echo trains that generates spin echo images as T2-weighted images.