SHIMMING OF MRI SCANNER INVOLVING FAT SUPPRESSION AND/OR BLACK BLOOD PREPARATION

In a method for shimming a magnetic resonance imaging scanner ( 10 ), at least one of fat suppression and blood suppression is performed to suppress magnetic resonance from a corresponding at least one of fat and blood. First and second magnetic resonance echoes emanating from a generally columnar volume are measured. The measurements of the first and second magnetic resonance echoes ( 122, 124 ) are reconstructed ( 150 ) into corresponding first and second generally columnar projection images ( 152, 154 ). The first and second generally columnar projection images are combined ( 160 ) to produce a magnetic field profile ( 174 ) of the generally columnar volume. Selected magnetic field parameters are extracted ( 142 ) from the magnetic field profile. Shim currents are computed ( 180 ) from the selected magnetic field parameters. The shim currents are applied to magnetic field coils ( 16, 60 ).