Magnetization-prepared 2 Rapid Gradient-Echo MRI for B-1 Insensitive 3D T1 Mapping of Hip Cartilage: An Experimental and Clinical Validation

Background: Often used for T1 mapping of hip cartilage, three-dimensional (3D) dual-flip-angle (DFA) techniques are highly sensitive to flip angle variations related to B-1 inhomogeneities. The authors hypothesized that 3D magnetization-prepared 2 rapid gradient-echo (MP2RAGE) MRI would help provide more accurate T1 mapping of hip cartilage at 3.0 T than would 3D DFA techniques.