Free-breathing myocardial T1 mapping using magnetization-prepared slice interleaved spoiled gradient echo imaging

Background Quantitative myocardial T1 mapping and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) show promise for non-invasive assessment of cardiomyopathies. Most available T1 mapping sequences use a single slice breath-hold acquisition with balanced steady state free precession (b-SSFP) readout [1]. However, b-SSFP readout is sensitive to B0 field inhomogeneity and is potentially T2 dependent [1]. In this study, we sought to investigate the feasibility of a free breathing multi-slice T1 mapping sequence using slice-interleaved spoiled gradient echo (GRE) imaging.