Are TrueFISP images T2/T1-weighted?

Images acquired using the TrueFISP technique (true fast imaging with steady-state precession) are generally believed to exhibit T-2/T-1-weighting. In this study, it is demonstrated that with the widely used half-flip-angle preparation scheme, approaching the steady state requires a time length comparable to the scan time such that the transient-state response may dominate the TrueFISP image contrast. Two-dimensional images of the human brain were obtained using various phase-encoding matrices to investigate the transient-state signal behavior. Contrast between gray and white matter was found to change significantly from proton-density- to T-2/T-1-weighted as the phase-encoding matrix size increased, which was in good agreement with theoretical predictions. It is concluded that TrueFISP images in general exhibit T-2/T-1-contrast, but should be more appropriately regarded as exhibiting a transient-state combination of proton-density and T-2/T-1 contrast under particular imaging conditions. Interpretation of tissue characteristics from TrueFISP images in clinical practice thus needs to be exercised with caution. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.