Optimizing the precision‐per‐unit‐time of quantitative MR metrics: Examples for T₁, T₂, and DTI

Quantitative MR metrics (e.g., T 1 , T 2 , diffusion coefficients, and magnetization transfer ratios (MTRs etc)) are often derived from two images collected with one acquisition parameter changed between them (the “two‐point” method). Since a low signal‐to‐noise‐ratio (SNR) adversely affects the precision of these metrics, averaging is frequently used, although improvement accrues slowly—in proportion to the square root of imaging time....