Fat and water separation at 0.23 T using simultaneous shift selective imaging

Based on the principle of selective inversion of the fat or water signal we have developed a method which allows the simultaneous acquisition of separated fat and water images. In combination with multiecho techniques, this allows the determination of shift selective relaxation times. A detailed analysis of the relaxation behavior of a human leg at 0.23 T shows that T 2 of fat and water can differ by a factor of two or more. We think, that the potential of MRI for differential diagnosis can be greatly enhanced using our method. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc.