Figure 3

Representative T1 values of myocardium and blood in a subject before and after contrast can be measured with a modified Look Locker pulse sequence employing single shot SSFP imaging within a single breath hold. Signal intensities are plotted against effective inversion time. A three parameter fitting of the data with a correction for read-out attenuation yields T1 values (see text for details). The top panel shows myocardial T1 curves before and after contrast whereas the lower panel shows the blood T1 curves before and after contrast. Most of the magnetization recovers after 4 heart beats after contrast administration. Pre and post contrast thumbnails corresponding to the myocardium and blood pool data points in the curves are also shown in order of effective inversion times.