T1 Mapping: Basic Techniques and Clinical Applications

In cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, the T1 relaxation time for the 1H magnetization in myocardial tissue may represent a valuable biomarker for a variety of pathological conditions. This possibility has driven the growing interest in quantifying T1, rather than just relying on its effect on image contrast. The techniques have advanced to where pixel-level myocardial T1 mapping has become a routine component of CMR examinations. Combined with the use of contrast agents, T1 mapping has led an expansive investigation of interstitial remodeling in ischemic and nonischemic heart disease. The purpose of this review was to introduce the reader to the physical principles of T1 mapping, the imaging techniques developed for T1 mapping, the pathophysiological markers accessible by T1 mapping, and its clinical uses.