Single Breath-Hold Renal T1 Imaging at 7T

Xiufeng Li¹, Patrick J. Bolan¹, Kamil Ugurbil¹, Gregory J. Metzger¹

Knowledge of renal longitudinal magnetization relaxation time is essential in renal imaging protocol optimization and quantitative non-contrast enhanced renal perfusion imaging using arterial spin labeling at 7T. Previous studies have indicated that, compared to T2 and spin density, the longitudinal relaxation time can be more important in characterizing renal diseases and differentiating specific disease states. For the first time, renal longitudinal relaxation times have been measured at 7T in healthy normal volunteers. The reproducibility of renal T1 measurements was also evaluated with repeated studies in two sessions approximately one week apart.