Magnetic resonance apparatus and method for implementing a neurological sequence protocol

A magnetic resonance apparatus to generate magnetic resonance images of an examination region of a subject, said examination region comprising tissue exhibiting a first T2 time and tissue exhibiting a second T2 time that is substantially longer than said first T2 time, said apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit adapted to receive the examination subject therein;
• a control unit configured to operate said data acquisition unit to radiate the subject with a series of pulse sequences, and in said series of pulse sequences, initially radiate an overview pulse sequence from which magnetic resonance overview images are generated, and after said overview pulse sequence in said series, radiate a T1-weighted pulse sequence from which T1-weighted magnetic resonance images are generated, and in said series, radiate a multiple contrast pulse sequence in which at least two groups of magnetic resonance signals are acquired, a first of said two groups being acquired after excitation of a magnetization in a first time period and at least a second of said two groups being acquired at a second time period after said first time period, in which said tissue with said substantially longer T2 time produces a dominant signal contribution;
• and
• a processor configured to calculate a final magnetic resonance image as a pixel-by-pixel difference of respective absolute values of the magnetic resonance signals in said first of said groups and said second of said groups.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with programming instructions, said storage medium being loaded into a computerized control and processing system of a magnetic resonance apparatus having a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit, and said programming instructions causing said computerized control and processing system to:

• operate a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit, in which the examination subject is located, to radiate the subject with a series of pulse sequences;
• in said series of pulse sequences, initially radiate an overview pulse sequence from which magnetic resonance overview images are generated;
• after said overview pulse sequence in said series, radiate a T1-weighted pulse sequence from which T1-weighted magnetic resonance images are generated;
• in said series, radiate a multiple contrast pulse sequence in which at least two groups of magnetic resonance signals are acquired, a first of said two groups being acquired after excitation of a magnetization in a first time period and at least a second of said two groups being acquired at a second time period after said first time period, in which said tissue with said substantially longer T2 time produces a dominant signal contribution;
• and
• calculate a final magnetic resonance image as a pixel-by-pixel difference of respective absolute values of the magnetic resonance signals in said first of said groups and said second of said groups.