A single‐scan T mapping method based on two gradient‐echo images with compensation for macroscopic field inhomogeneity

T‐weighted imaging (TWI) and quantitative T mapping with conventional gradient‐echo acquisition are often hindered by severe signal loss induced by macroscopic field inhomogeneity. Various z‐shimming approaches have been developed for TWI/T mapping in which the effects of macroscopic field inhomogeneity are suppressed while the sensitivity of T‐related signal intensity to alterations in the microscopic susceptibility is maintained. However, this is often done at the cost of significantly increased imaging time. In this work, a fast T mapping method with compensation for macroscopic field inhomogeneity was developed. A proton density‐weighted image and a composite T‐weighted image, both of which were essentially free from macroscopic field inhomogeneity‐induced signal loss, were used for the T calculation. The composite T‐weighted image was reconstructed from a number of gradient‐echo images acquired with successively incremented z‐shimming compensation. Because acquisition of the two images and z‐shimming compensation were realized in a single scan, the total acquisition time for obtaining a T map with the proposed method is the same as the time taken for a conventional multiecho gradient‐echo imaging sequence without compensation. The performance and efficiency of the proposed method were demonstrated and evaluated at 4.7 T. Magn Reson Med 60:1388–1395, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.