Clinically-Driven Fast and High-Resolution Mapping of T1, M0, and B1 with Whole Brain Coverage

Introduction Quantitative MR techniques have become increasingly on demand in human brain imaging. In particular, accurate mapping of the longitudinal relaxation time, T1, and water content, M0, is of prime interest pushing the development of techniques with high spatial resolution and short experimental durations. The current most efficient method for obtaining T1 maps is based on acquiring two spoiled gradient recalled echo (SPGR) images in steady states with variable flip angles [1,2]. Further acquisitions are usually required to obtain the brain tissue water content. Several factors, including inhomogeneities of the RF field, B1, particularly at higher filed strengths [3,4], and low SNR may negatively affect the accuracy of these methods and produce systematic errors in T1 and M0 estimation [4,5]. Correct values can still be achieved by applying suitable corrections [25]. However, the concomitant increase in scan time renders these techniques intractable in a clinical environment. In this study, we present a modified two-acquisition SPGR method for simultaneous B1, T1, and M0 mapping with an isotropic spatial resolution of 1×1×1 mm that covers the entire human brain in a clinically acceptable time.