The term TE in MRI refers to what?

The term TE in MRI refers to "Time to Echo." This parameter is crucial in magnetic resonance imaging as it measures the time elapsed between the delivery of the radiofrequency pulse and the receipt of the echo signal, which is generated by the relaxation of the excited nuclei in the tissue. TE is a fundamental component of the pulse sequence and directly impacts the contrast and detail of the images produced.

In practice, different TEs can highlight various tissues based on their unique relaxation times, which is essential for differentiating between healthy and pathological conditions. A shorter TE may provide more detail about high signal structures, while a longer TE may enhance the contrast of other tissues. Understanding how to manipulate TE helps in optimizing image quality for specific clinical situations.