Correction of intensity nonuniformity in spin-echo T1-weighted images

This paper presents a method to correct intensity nonuniformity in spin-echo T1-weighted images and particularly the inhomogeneities due to RF transmission imperfections which have tissue-dependent effects through the T1 relaxation times. This method is based on the use of a uniform phantom, first for classic normalization by division by the phantom images, and second for T1-correction using the RF transmitted cartography. We present experimental results from a bi-phasic (oil/water) phantom and from a salmon with a 0.2 T imager. The results demonstrate the efficiency of the method in the two cases and its ability to cope with partial volume effect.