Repeatability of magnetic resonance fingerprinting T and T estimates assessed using the ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate accuracy and repeatability of T and T estimates of a MR fingerprinting (MRF) method using the ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom.

Methods: The ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom contains multiple compartments with standardized T , T , and proton density values. Conventional inversion-recovery spin echo and spin echo methods were used to characterize the T and T values in the phantom. The phantom was scanned using the MRF-FISP method over 34 consecutive days. The mean T and T values were compared with the values from the spin echo methods. The repeatability was characterized as the coefficient of variation of the measurements over 34 days.

Results: T and T values from MRF-FISP over 34 days showed a strong linear correlation with the measurements from the spin echo methods (R  = 0.999 for T ; R  = 0.996 for T ). The MRF estimates over the wide ranges of T and T values have less than 5% variation, except for the shortest T relaxation times where the method still maintains less than 8% variation.

Conclusion: MRF measurements of T and T are highly repeatable over time and across wide ranges of T and T values. Magn Reson Med 78:1452-1457, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.