Nonparametric 5D D-R2 distribution imaging with single-shot EPI at 21.1 T: Initial results for in vivo rat brain

In vivo human diffusion MRI is by default performed using single-shot EPI with greater than 50-ms echo times and associated signal loss from transverse relaxation. The individual benefits of the current trends of increasing B-0 to boost SNR and employing more advanced signal preparation schemes to improve the specificity for selected microstructural properties eventually may be cancelled by increased relaxation rates at high B-0 and echo times with advanced encoding. Here, initial attempts to translate state-ofthe-art diffusion-relaxation correlation methods from 3 T to 21.1 T are made to identify hurdles that need to be overcome to fulfill the promises of both high SNR and readily interpretable microstructural information. (C) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.