FIESTA, bFFE and TrueFISP: balanced SSFP explained
Fast images with bright fluid and good contrast between fluid and tissue. This is where it helps and where banding appears.
Balanced SSFP (FIESTA / bFFE / TrueFISP)
Fluid and blood very bright whether moving or not; fat also bright.
Cardiac cine, bowel and fetal imaging without motion artifact, cranial nerves in CSF (phase-cycled versions), fast localizers.
Dark bands where the field is uneven. Contrast is a T2/T1 ratio, so it does not replace T2.
This page is one entry from the MRI Technologist Reference
The full reference has 31 protocols, 9 dynamic study timelines, 19 artifacts, 16 scanner problems and 15 safety topics, as a PDF in English and Arabic plus an interactive tool.
Educational reference. It does not replace your site protocols, the radiologist's instructions, the MR safety officer, or the manufacturer's instructions for any implant, device or contrast agent. Parameter values are typical starting points at 1.5 T and must be adapted to the scanner, coil and patient.