Sensitive and fast T1 mapping based on two inversion recovery images and a reference image

We developed a fast method to obtain T-1 relaxation maps in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on two inversion recovery acquisitions and a reference acquisition, while maintaining high sensitivity by utilizing the full dynamic range of the MRI signal. Optimal inversion times for estimating T-1 in the human brain were predicted using standard error propagation theory. In vivo measurements on nine healthy volunteers yielded T-1 values of 1094 +/- 18 ms in gray matter and 746 +/- 40 ms in white matter, in reasonable agreement with literature values using conventional approaches. The proposed method should be useful for clinical studies because the T-1 maps can be obtained within a few seconds. (c) 2005 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.