Magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus

A magnetic resonance imaging method for generating three-dimensional image of a selected three-dimensional region of a subject on the basis of magnetic resonance phenomena exhibited by hydrogen atomic nuclei, comprising:

• the step for repeating the application of an RF pulse to said three-dimensional region of said subject at a short pulse repetition time to generate steady-state free precession magnetic resonance signals;
• the step for applying a dephasing gradient magnetic field and a rephasing gradient magnetic field to signal components in said magnetic resonance signals which get in phase [immediately prior to the application of the next between consecutive RF pulses, so as to cause echo signals to be generated from steady-state free precession magnetic resonance signals of said three-dimensional region;
• the step for acquiring said echo signal;
• and
• the step of reconstructing a plurality of relatively thin slice images on the basis of said echo signals from steady-state free precession magnetic resonance signals of said three-dimensional region acquired by said step of signal acquisition;
• the step of producing a surface anatomy scan image on the basis of said plurality of images of relatively thin slices obtained by said image reconstructing step;
• and
• the step of displaying said surface anatomy image obtained by said image producing step.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus to be adapted to achieve three-dimensional imaging of a selected three-dimensional region of a subject on the basis of magnetic resonance phenomena exhibited by hydrogen atomic nuclei, comprising:

• means for performing a sequence defined by the contrast enhanced-Fourier acquired steady-state technique (CE-FAST) extended to three dimensions;
• image reconstruction means for reconstructing a plurality of relatively thin slice images on the basis of said echo signals from said three-dimensional region acquired by said means;
• weighting means for weighting differently said plurality of relative thin slice images obtained by said image reconstructing means;
• adding means for adding slice images obtained by said weighting means to produce a surface anatomy scan image of said three-dimensional region;
• image producing means for producing said surface anatomy scan image on the basis of said plurality of relatively thin slice images obtained by said image reconstruction means;
• and
• image display means for displaying said surface anatomy image obtained by said image producing means.