Fast 3D radiofrequency field mapping using echo-planar imaging

An inhomogeneous radiofrequency (RF) magnetic field is an essential source of error for the quantification of MRI and MRS parameters. To correct for effects of RIF inhomogeneities in 3D data sets, it is necessary to have knowledge of the 3D RF distribution in the sample. In this paper a method for fast 3D RF mapping is presented. The method is based on the simultaneous acquisition of a spin echo (SE) and a stimulated echo (STE) using echo-planar imaging (EPI). The acquisition of the 3D RIF map using 64 partitions and TR = 500 ms requires 1.5 min. The use of the sequence in vivo is demonstrated by the calculation of the RF maps in the human brain at 3T. The comparison of calculated flip angles with the flip angles obtained by fitting signal behavior in the 3D stimulated-echo acquisition mode (STEAM)-EPI sequence and the analysis of errors due to spatially dependent T-1 values in the brain show that the accuracy of the calculated flip angles in the human brain is about 2 degrees.