Basic T1-dependent segmentation acquisition paradigms for enhancing contrast in 1H magnetic resonance pulmonary imaging

The proton magnetic resonance signal from the lung parenchyma is inherently weaker than the signal from an equivalent volume in the surrounding thorax or the pulmonary vessels. Standard /sup 1/H MRI techniques thus yield lung images with reduced SNR and poor image contrast. Advantageous use of T/sub 1/-weighting acquisition sequences can enhance lung contrast and ameliorate the lungs for the segmentation process. Segmentation templates include direct measurement of the T/sub 1/ distribution, inversion recovery and multiple inversion recovery, oxygen-enhancement, and arterial spin labeling.