T1 Mapping of the Abdomen, From the AJR "How We Do It" Special Series.

Abstract

By exploiting different tissues' characteristic T₁ relaxation times, T₁-weighted images help distinguish normal and abnormal tissues, aiding assessment of diffuse and local pathologies. However, such images do not provide quantitative T₁ values. Advances in abdominal MRI techniques have enabled measurement of abdominal organs' T₁ relaxation times, which can be used to create color-coded quantitative maps. T₁ mapping is sensitive to tissue microenvironments including inflammation and fibrosis and has received substantial interest for noninvasive imaging of abdominal organ pathology. In particular, quantitative mapping provides a powerful tool for evaluation of diffuse disease by making apparent changes in T₁ occurring across organs that may otherwise be difficult to identify. Quantitative measurement also facilitates sensitive monitoring of longitudinal T₁ changes. Increased T₁ in liver helps to predict parenchymal fibro-inflammation, in pancreas is associated with reduced exocrine function from chronic or autoimmune pancreatitis, and in kidney is associated with impaired renal function and aids diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. In this review, we describe the acquisition, postprocessing, and analysis of T₁ maps in the abdomen and explore applications in liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidney. We highlight practical aspects of implementation and standardization, technical pitfalls and confounding factors, and areas of likely greatest clinical impact.