Fast T1 mapping with volume coverage

Four different sequences which enable high-resolution, multislice T-1 relaxation-time mapping are presented. All these sequences are based on the Look-Locker method with differences arising from the use of either a saturation-recovery or inversion-recovery module prior to data acquisition with a full k-space or banded k-space acquisition scheme. The methods were implemented on a standard clinical scanner and the accuracy of the T-1 results was evaluated against spectroscopic measurements. The accuracy of the T-1 maps validated by phantom imaging measurements is around 1% for species which relax with T-1 times that mimic gray/white matter (T-1 less than or equal to 1000 ms). Additionally, the inherent multislice, multipoint capability of the methods is demonstrated. Finally, in vivo results of the human brain obtained using the faster method are presented. The fastest data acquisition was achieved with a saturation-recovery, banded k-space method where k-space was divided into three segments; an overall acquisition time of around 5 min (for species with T-1 less than or equal to 1 sec) was achieved for a T-1 map which can, in principle, provide whole-brain coverage with a matrix size of 256 x 256 at multiple time-points. Magn Reson Med 46: 131-140, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.