Rapid quantitative lung 1H T1 mapping

In this contribution, a rapid and robust technique for quantitative T1 mapping of the human lung is presented. Based on a series of Snapshot FLASH tomograms acquired after a single inversion pulse, high quality and quantitative T1 parameter maps acquired in under five seconds were obtained from six healthy volunteers. The measured T1 values are in good agreement with previously reported literature values. T1 maps were also acquired with the volunteers breathing room air or 100% O2. The T1 difference between breathing room air and 100% O2 is statistically significant at P < 0.0001. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:795–799. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.