Quantitative T1rho Imaging Using Phase Cycling for B0 and B1 Field Inhomogeneity Compensation

Weitian Chen¹, Atsushi Takahashi¹, Eric T. Han¹

T1rho imaging is promising in clinical applications such as early detection of osteoarthritis. T1rho imaging, however, is sensitive to B0 and B1 RF field inhomogeneities. In this work, we report on a phase cycling method to eliminate B1 RF inhomogeneity effects in T1rho imaging. The presences of B0 field inhomogeneity can compromise B1 RF inhomogeneity compensation approaches. We present a method which combines the phase cycling approach with a composite RF pulse scheme proposed by Dixon et al for simultaneous compensation of B0 and B1 RF field inhomogeneity in T1rho imaging. The proposed T1rho RF preparation methods can be combined with an SNR-efficient 3D T1rho imaging method MAPSS without compromising scan time.