Simultaneous 3D T1- and T2-mapping of abdominal aortic aneurysms with black blood and fat suppression

Motivation: An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) poses a risk of rupture, leading to high mortality rates. T1- and T2- may be biomarkers for rupture. Goal(s): To implement and test a high-resolution, and motion-robust T1- and T2-mapping strategy that includes blood and fat suppression. Approach: A combined 3D T1- and T2-mapping approach was developed and tested in a phantom. T1- and T2-values of 16 AAA-patients were computed and compared with the aneurysm diameter. Results: The proposed protocol successfully generated volumetric T1- and T2-maps of the aortic wall. The median T1- and T2-values obtained from AAA patients did not correlate with aneurysm diameter. Impact: An abdominal aortic aneurysm poses a risk of rupture, leading to high mortality rates. The proposed black-blood fat suppressed simultaneous T1- and T2-mapping approach in AAAs may provide additional biomarkers to estimate rupture risk.