Manganese Detection by MRI Relaxation Ratio Mapping

Loredana Sorina Truica¹, Keiko McCreary¹, Albert Cross¹

Manganese enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) is becoming widely used as a neuro-anatomical and functional tool in studies of animal models. To quantify the Mn distribution and improve the sensitivity, T1 mapping is normally used. It is known that the paramagnetic relaxation properties of manganese in solution are unique with an unusually large ratio of T1 to T2. This study investigates the addition of T2 mapping to the detection of low-level changes of manganese and demonstrates how T1/T2 ratio mapping may be used to reveal contrast specific to manganese.