Simplified fast multislice T_1app mapping for improved cerebral blood flow arterial spin labeling MRI

Synopsis

Given the association between MT and longitudinal relaxation rate (1/T₁), we hypothesized that T_1app, under RF saturation, can be estimated from T₁ to improve CBF quantification. Using Wistar rats, we showed that the T_1app over T₁ ratiometric map (i.e., T_1app/T₁) is homogeneous despite large regional variation in T₁ and T_1app maps. Therefore, we postulated that T_1app map could be estimated from the routine T₁ map instead of T_1app, which is cumbersome and not straightforward. A fast T_1app estimation provides satisfactory Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement across the brain, not affected by the concomitant MT effect.