Single-Slice Mapping of Submillisecond T2 using Spin Echo Prepared Ultra-Short Echo Time Imaging

Stefan Kirsch¹, Lothar R. Schad¹

Measurement of the transversal relaxation time T₂ is one of the most established techniques to characterize material samples or biological tissue by means of NMR. If molecular motion is restricted, direct spin-spin interactions become relevant and extremely short T₂ values are expected. Here we present a slice-selective MRI method for mapping of submillisecond T₂. The method utilizes a spin echo preparation followed by slice-selective ultra-short echo time imaging. Mapping of submillisecond T₂ could be useful in studies on material samples, short T₂ biological tissue like bone, tendon or cartilage and on quadrupolar nuclei like ²³Na, ³⁵Cl, and ¹⁷O.