Robust Quantification of Contrast Agent Concentration with Magnetic Field Correlation Imaging

Vishal Patil¹, Glyn Johnson¹, Jens H. Jensen¹

Estimation of gadolinium concentration, [Gd], is the essential first step in the measurement of a number of different parameters by contrast enhanced perfusion MRI. Generally, [Gd] is estimated assuming a linear relationship between relaxation rate and concentration. However, it is known that this assumption is false in tissue. Magnetic Field Correlation (MFC) depends quadratically on [Gd] to a very good approximation and may therefore be a more accurate means of estimating concentration. The purpose of this study is to compare the accuracy of [Gd] measurement using MFC and relaxivity rates in yeast phantoms.