Lung
T1/T2* may be useful in discriminating between normal and pathological tissue
particularly in disorders such as fibrosis, edema or emphysema. Quantitative
mapping of the lung parenchyma is challenging due to the low proton density, respiratory
and cardiac motion and susceptibility effects. Here we describe a technique
based on segmented respiratory triggered 3D ultrashort echo time dual-echo
radial imaging interleaved with and without a WET saturation pulse to estimate
T1 and T2* maps simultaneously in a single scan. The results show that T1/T2* mapping of lung
parenchyma can be reliably performed with relatively high resolution in a
clinically feasible time.
