Nuclear magnetic resonance pulse sequence and discrimination of high- and low-fat tissues

Signal size compared to independently measured T1 is described for various pulse sequences on the Aberdeen Mk II nuclear magnetic resonance imager. The ability of these sequences to discriminate between certain tissue types, and in particular between adipose tissue and muscle, is discussed. Inversion recovery, with a t interval of 200 ms, gives the best discrimination for this purpose, with a contrast ratio of 6 between fat and muscle. Other image types, and especially T1, give better contrast for low-lipid soft tissue such as liver and spleen.