3.0 T relaxation time measurements of human lymph nodes in adults with and without lymphatic insufficiency: Implications for magnetic resonance lymphatic imaging

The purpose of this work was to quantify 3.0 T (i) T1 and T2 relaxation times of in vivo human lymph nodes (LNs) and (ii) LN relaxometry differences between healthy LNs and LNs from patients with lymphatic insufficiency secondary to breast cancer treatment‐related lymphedema (BCRL). MR relaxometry was performed over bilateral axillary regions at 3.0 T in healthy female controls (105 LNs from 20 participants) and patients with BCRL (108 LNs from 20 participants). Quantitative T1 maps were calculated using a multi‐flip‐angle (20, 40, 60°) method with B1 correction (dual‐TR method, TR1/TR2 = 30/130 ms), and T2 maps using a multi‐echo (TE = 9–189 ms; 12 ms intervals) method. T1 and T2 were quantified in the LN cortex and hilum. A Mann–Whitney U‐test was applied to compare LN relaxometry values between patients and controls (significance, two sided, p