Background Gradient Correction using Excitation Pulse Profile for Fat and T2* Quantification in 2D Multi-Slice Liver Imaging

Purpose : The objective of this study was to develop background gradient correction method using excitation pulse profile compensation for accurate fat and T2* quantification in the liver. Materials and Methods: In liver imaging using gradient echo, signal decay induced by linear background gradient is weighted by an excitation pulse profile and therefore hinders accurate quantification of T2* and fat. To correct this, a linear background gradient in the slice-selection direction was estimated from a B0 field map and signal decays were corrected using the excitation pulse profile. Improved estimation of fat fraction and T2* from the corrected data were demonstrated by phantom and in vivo experiments at 3 Tesla magnetic field.