Three-dimensional black-blood T1 mapping of arterial plaque and venous thrombosis: a concept-proof study

Quantitative T1 mapping have showed the potential to characterize arterial plaque and venous thrombotic components. However, owing to the interference of blood signals, it is a challenge for T1 mapping technique to combine with black-blood imaging, which may otherwise be a confounder for plaque and thrombus component. In this study, we present a black-blood T1 mapping technique based on DANTE black-blood preparation and MP2RAGE sequence. Experiment results demonstrated that BB-MP2RAGE provided accurate measurement of T1 relaxation time with effective blood suppression. The technique has the potential to be a quantitative tool for thrombosis and plaque characterization.