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A fast Look–Locker method for T 1 mapping of the head and neck region

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Abstract

Objective

A sequence for T 1 relaxation time measurements that allows a high-resolution image to be obtained within a short acquisition time is described. Its application to the orofacial region is investigated.

Methods

The sequence is based on the Look–Locker (LL) method and employs a magnetization-preparation pulse prior to data acquisition, with either a turbo-field echo (TFE) or turbo-field echo echo-planar imaging (TFEPI) sequence. We applied the multiple LL sequence by synchronizing the data acquisition with the virtual electrocardiogram. T 1 results from the LL sequence were compared with those from the inversion recovery (IR) sequence. In an in vitro study, we evaluated the T 1 maps of contrast medium at different concentrations. In an in vivo study, we evaluated the T 1 maps in seven volunteers.

Results

In the in vitro study, the correlation between the T 1 values obtained from the LL sequence and those from the IR sequence was high, with an R 2 of more than 0.99. For T 1 values between 200 and 1,500 ms, the difference between the two methods was less than 7%. In the in vivo study, a high correlation was observed between the T 1 values from the IR sequence and those from the LL sequence. The scan duration for the LL sequence was less than 3 min.

Conclusion

Our method, based on the LL sequence, was found to be clinically useful for producing a T 1 map.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a MEXT (The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) 18592063.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan

    Toru Chikui, Kenji Tokumori & Kazunori Yoshiura

  2. Section of Image Diagnosis, Department of Diagnostics and General Care, Fukuoka Dental College, Tamura 2-15-1, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, Japan

    Ryosuke Zeze & Tomoko Shiraishi

  3. Department of Radiology, Fukuoka Dental College Medical and Dental Hospital, Tamura 2-15-1, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, Japan

    Takahiro Ichihara

  4. Department of Clinical Radiology, Faculty of Medical Science, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan

    Masamitsu Hatakenaka

Authors
  1. Toru Chikui
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  2. Kenji Tokumori
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  3. Ryosuke Zeze
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  4. Tomoko Shiraishi
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  5. Takahiro Ichihara
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  6. Masamitsu Hatakenaka
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  7. Kazunori Yoshiura
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Toru Chikui.

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Chikui, T., Tokumori, K., Zeze, R. et al. A fast Look–Locker method for T 1 mapping of the head and neck region. Oral Radiol 25, 22–29 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-009-0005-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-009-0005-1

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