Rapid quantitative lung 1H T1 mapping

In this contribution, a rapid and robust technique for quantitative T-1 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 T-1 parameter maps acquired in under five seconds were obtained from six healthy volunteers. The measured T-1 values are in good agreement with previously reported literature values. T-1 maps were also acquired with the volunteers breathing room air or 100% O-2. The T-1 difference between breathing room air and 100% O-2 is statistically significant at P < 0.0001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.