Simultaneous display of multiple MR parameters with "quantitative magnetic color imaging"

A new technique for simultaneous display of multiple MR parameters with a single color-coded image is described. The method is based on the multiparametric nature of MR signals and benefits from the physiologic ability to discriminate color levels better than gray levels. The T1 and T2 relaxation rate maps are first obtained from multi-echo SE and partial saturation sequences. Each parameter is subsequently represented with one or with a combination of two fundamental colors (red, green, blue) into a composite quantitative magnetic color image. Each mixture of chromatic components in the magnetic color image represents a unique combination of the two relaxation parameters, easily interpretable by the human eye, without loss of anatomic information. The potential advantages of the technique are discussed and some practical applications are presented.