High‐resolution T1 and T2 mapping of the brain in a clinically acceptable time with DESPOT1 and DESPOT2

Variations in the intrinsic T1 and T2 relaxation times have been implicated in numerous neurologic conditions. Unfortunately, the low resolution and long imaging time associated with conventional methods have prevented T1 and T2 mapping from becoming part of routine clinical evaluation. In this study, the clinical applicability of the DESPOT1 and DESPOT2 imaging methods for high‐resolution, whole‐brain, T1 and T2 mapping was investigated. In vivo, 1‐mm3 isotropic whole‐brain T1 and T2 maps of six healthy volunteers were acquired at 1.5 T with an imaging time of <17 min each. Isotropic maps (0.34 mm3) of one volunteer were also acquired (time <21 min). Average signal‐to‐noise within the 1‐mm3 T1 and T2 maps was ∼20 and ∼14, respectively, with average repeatability standard deviations of 46.7 ms and 6.7 ms. These results demonstrate the clinical feasibility of the methods in the study of neurologic disease. Magn Reson Med 53:237–241, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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