Enhancing the precision of quantitative water content mapping by optimizing sequence parameters

This article describes a methodology for determining the precision of a recently published method for quantitative water content mapping using MRI. A framework for calculating the random error component as a function of sequence parameters is provided and predictions are compared with experimental results obtained in a phantom. The experimental and theoretical results are in good agreement and demonstrate that the precision of quantitative water content mapping can be significantly increased by a proper and objective choice of acquisition parameters. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.