Gradient Echo Assisted 3D Look-Locker - A Method for Improved Volume T1-Quantification Accuracy Applied to DGEMRIC

Carl Siversson¹, Carl-Johan Tiderius², Leif Dahlberg², Jonas Svensson¹

3D Look-Locker (LL) can be used for various T1 quantification applications, such as delayed Gadolinium enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC). The LL method is however usually dependent on both the excitation- and inversion pulse performing well in order to generate reliable T1 values. By introducing an additional very quick (45 seconds) spoiled Gradient Echo sequence it is however possible to map both the B1 field and the inversion quality and compensate for any fluctuations. With this method T1 is measured very accurately, throughout all slices, both in gel phantoms and in in vivo dGEMRIC measurements.