Fast multi-slice liver water T1 mapping using single-shot continuous inversion recovery spiral imaging

Liver T1 mapping can characterize liver alterations in diffuse or focal (e.g. metastatic) liver disease, but it is currently limited to acquisitions of a single-slice per breath-hold. We propose a continuous inversion recovery methodology combining a single-shot gradient echo spiral readout, Dixon processing for water-fat separation and dictionary-based analysis for water selective T1 mapping in the liver at 3T. The spiral readout is employed for a high k-space sampling efficiency, enabling acquisitions with only 1.2s per slice. The method allows multi-slice full-liver water T1 mapping either in a single 11s-breath-hold or in a respiratory-triggered acquisition.