Quantitative MR imaging: physical principles and sequence design in abdominal imaging.

Quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging seeks to quantify fundamental biologic and MR-inducible tissue properties, in contrast to the routine application of MR imaging in the clinic, in which differences in MR parameters are used to generate contrast for subsequent subjective image analysis. Fundamental parameters that are commonly quantified by using MR imaging include proton density, diffusion, T1 relaxation, T2 and T2* relaxation, and magnetization transfer. Applications of these MR imaging-quantifiable parameters to abdominal imaging include oncologic imaging, evaluation of diffuse liver disease, and assessment of splenic, renal, and pancreatic disease. An understanding of the inherent physical principles underlying the basic quantitative parameters as well as the commonly used pulse sequences requisite to their derivation is critical, as this field is rapidly growing and its use will likely continue to expand in the clinic. The full potential of quantitative MR imaging applied to abdominal imaging has yet to be realized, but the myriad applications reported to date will undoubtedly continue to grow.