What is a consequence of increasing echo spacing during FSE scans?

Increasing echo spacing during Fast Spin Echo (FSE) scans leads to increased blurring in the resulting images. This blurring occurs because the echo time (TE) is effectively prolonged as the time between successive echoes increases. When echoes are spaced further apart, any motion or changes in the magnetic field during that time can result in greater phase wrap and decreased image clarity.

This phenomenon is particularly relevant in imaging dynamic tissues or structures, where even slight movements can lead to misregistration of the signal and ultimately contribute to motion artifacts. Therefore, the quality of the image may be compromised, as sharpness is diminished, making it crucial to optimize echo spacing to strike a balance between image quality and desired scan parameters.

On the other hand, while increased echo spacing may relate to other factors like spatial resolution or chemical shift, the primary consequence of spacing echoes further apart is the increased potential for blurring due to the reasons outlined, underscoring the importance of understanding the interplay between imaging parameters in MRI.