T-1 maps from shifted spin echoes and stimulated echoes

A new pulse sequence for fast multislice T-1 mapping is presented. This met hod is based on calculating T-1 from spin echo (SE) and stimulated echo (ST E) images obtained with different degrees of T-1 weighting, and uses the in terleaved acquisition scheme of the fast phase acquisition of composite ech oes (FastPACE) technique. In contrast to the FastPACE technique, the two ec hoes are sampled separately. Experimental comparisons confirm that the new sequence layout overcomes most of the FastPACE restrictions, such as its mo tion sensitivity and the need for a fully complex data set. Moreover, this method offers a higher precision for long T-1 values and a further reductio n of acquisition time. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.