FAST T-2-MAPPING WITH SNAPSHOT FLASH IMAGING

It has been shown recently that quantitative T-2-maps may be measured by acquisition of a series of at least eight T-2-weighted SNAPSHOT FLA SH images. These measurements require a relaxation delay of 10-15 s af ter each T-2-weighted image for the complete relaxation of the spin sy stem. This results in long measuring times. The method presented in th is paper allows a considerable reduction of the measuring time by comb ining the T-2-sequence with a fast T-1-measurement. Quantitative T-1- and T-2-maps may be acquired simultaneously in less than 30 s. The met hod was tested in a phantom experiment. In an in vivo application, rel axation times of different tissues in the abdomen of a rat were measur ed.