Three-dimensional Multi-parameter Mapping of Relaxation Times and Susceptibility Using Partially RF-spoiled Gradient Echo.

Purpose: MR parameter mapping is a technique that obtains distributions of parameters such as relaxation time and proton density (PD) and is starting to be used for disease quantification in clinical diagnoses. Quantitative susceptibility mapping is also promising for the early diagnosis of brain disorders such as degenerative neurological disorders. Therefore, we developed an MR quantitative parameter mapping (QPM) method to map four tissue-related parameters (T, T*, PD, and susceptibility) and B simultaneously by using a 3D partially RF-spoiled gradient echo (pRSGE). We verified the accuracy and repeatability of QPM in phantom and volunteer experiments.

Methods: Tissue-related parameters are estimated by varying four scan parameters of the 3D pRSGE: flip angle, RF-pulse phase increment, TR and TE, performing multiple image scans, and finding a least-squares fit for an intensity function (which expresses the relationship between the scan parameters and intensity values). The intensity function is analytically complex, but by using a Bloch simulation to create it numerically, the least-squares fitting can be used to estimate the quantitative values. This has the advantage of shortening the image-reconstruction processing time needed to estimate the quantitative values than with methods using pattern matching.

Results: A 1.1-mm isotropic resolution scan covering the whole brain was completed with a scan time of approximately 12 minutes, and the reconstruction time using a GPU was approximately 1 minute. The phantom experiments confirmed that both the accuracy and repeatability of the quantitative values were high. The volunteer scans also confirmed that the accuracy of the quantitative values was comparable to that of conventional methods.

Conclusion: The proposed QPM method can map T, T*, PD, susceptibility, and B simultaneously within a scan time that can be applied to human subjects.