Measurement of R2 dispersion profiles using Fast Field Cycling MRI

Abstract

International audienceFast Field Cycling (FFC) MRI enables rapid and precise relaxometry measurements as a function of magnetic field B_\textrm0. Up to now, it was possible to measure longitudinal R_\textrm1-NMRD profiles and to generate innovative R_\textrm1-dispersive contrasts. However, the ability to measure transverse R_\textrm2-NMRD profiles has still to be investigated. Here, a spin-echo based FFC sequence is developed to measure R_\textrm2-dispersion, and is applied to ferritin and Gd-DOTA in the range 1.15 to 1.85 T. It is shown that measurements of R2 dispersion could be obtained accurately with the FFC-MRI technology