Rapid quantitative lung 1H T1 mapping

Abstract

In this contribution, a rapid and robust technique for quantitative T₁ mapping of the human lung is presented. Based on a series of Snapshot FLASH tomograms acquired after a single inversion pulse, high quality and quantitative T₁ parameter maps acquired in under five seconds were obtained from six healthy volunteers. The measured T₁ values are in good agreement with previously reported literature values. T₁ maps were also acquired with the volunteers breathing room air or 100% O₂. The T₁ difference between breathing room air and 100% O₂ is statistically significant at P < 0.0001. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:795–799.