MRI pulse sequence abbreviations

This article contains a list of commonly and less commonly used MRI pulse sequence abbreviations and their meaning. If available, an explanation is included in a separate article.

• image weighting
  • T1
  • T2 
  • ​T2*: T2 star
  • PD: proton density
  • DWI: diffusion-weighted imaging and ADC: apparent diffusion coefficient maps
  • SWI: susceptibility-weighted imaging
• spin-echo sequences
  • SE: spin-echo
  • FSE: fast spin-echo or TSE: turbo spin-echo
    • SS-FSE: single shot FSE
  • BLADE: proprietary name for periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) in MRI systems from Siemens Healthcare^{TM 4}
  • HASTE: half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo
    • MS-EPI: multi shot echo planar imaging
  • RARE: rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement
  • TGSE: turbo gradient spin echo
  • 3D fast spin echo: isotropic 3D sequences, allowing multiplanar reformats
    • 3D MVOX: 3D multivoxel (Canon)
    • CUBE (GE): not an abbreviation
    • isoFSE (Hitachi)
    • SPACE: sampling perfection with application-optimized-optimised contrasts using different flip angle evolution (Siemens)
    • VISTA: 3D volume isotropic turbo spin-echo acquisition (Philips)
• gradient echo sequences (GRE)
  • SSFP: steady-state free precession
  • TRUFI: true fast imaging with steady-state free precession
  • true FISP: fast imaging with steady-state free precession
  • PSIF: reverse FISP
  • DESS: dual echo steady state
  • FLASH: fast low angle shot 
  • GRASS: gradient recalled acquisition in the steady-state
  • SPGR: spoiled gradient recalled
  • VIBE: volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination, volumetric interpolated brain examination
  • CISS: constructive interference in steady-state
  • FIESTA: fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition
  • MERGE: multiple echo recombined gradient echo
  • MEDIC: multi-echo data image combination
  • BOLD imaging: blood oxygen level-dependent imaging (see SS-EPI below)
  • SS-EPI: single shot echo planar imaging (preferred technique for BOLD imaging at 3 tesla and below) 
• inversion recovery (IR) sequences:
  • STIR: short tau inversion recovery
  • FLAIR: fluid-attenuated inversion recovery
  • TIRM: turbo inversion recovery magnitude
• MR angiography (MRA):
  • TOF: time of flight
  • MOTSA: multiple overlapping thin slab acquisitions
  • phase contrast
  • contrast enhanced MR angiography
  • TWIST: time-resolved angiography with stochastic trajectories
  • TRICKS: time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics
  • TRAK: time-resolved angiography using keyhole
  • TRAQ: time-resolved acquisition
  • TRANCE: triggered angiography non-contrast enhanced
  • SWAN: susceptibility weighted angiography
• in and out of phase imaging
• fat suppressed imaging
• MR spectroscopy:
  • ​PRESS: point resolved spectroscopy
  • STEAM: stimulated echo acquisition mode
• general techniques:
  • CLEAR: Constant LEvel AppeaRance

See also

• MR spectroscopy
• MRI pulse sequences