Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and susceptibility-weighted imaging method using the same

A method for acquiring a susceptibility-weighted image for use by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:

• acquiring a first RF echo signal in a first echo time for providing an image exclusive of susceptibility-weighting;
• acquiring a second RF echo signal in a second echo time longer than the first echo time for providing an image including susceptibility-weighting;
• acquiring a third RF echo signal in a third echo time longer than the second echo time;
• deriving data representing first, second and third images from the first, second and third echo signals respectively, and identifying a first region in which signal attenuation has occurred in the second image using the acquired first, second and third images;
• and
• compensating the first region by combining first, second and third images.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, comprising:

• a radio frequency (RF) coil configured to,
• acquire a first RF echo signal in a first echo time for providing an image exclusive of susceptibility-weighting,
• acquire a second RF echo signal in a second echo time longer than the first echo time for providing an image including susceptibility-weighting and
• acquire a third RF echo signal in a third echo time longer than the second echo time;
• and
• an image processing unit configured to,
• derive data representing first, second and third images from the first, second and third echo signals respectively,
• identify a first region in which signal attenuation has occurred in the second image using the acquired first, second and third images, and
• compensate for attenuation of magnetic resonance signal in the identified first region by combining data of the first, second and third images.