Validate MOLLI-derived T2 estimates across acquisition schemes and pathology

Determine whether the consistency of T2 estimates derived from T1-weighted MOLLI images remains valid across different MOLLI acquisition schemes and whether these estimates are useful in pathological cases.

Background

The paper demonstrates that the Modified Look-Locker Inversion Recovery (MOLLI) sequence, although designed for T1 mapping, contains sufficient T2-dependent signal evolution to permit T2 estimation through Extended Phase Graph modelling. Simulations indicate accurate myocardial T2 estimation under sufficiently high signal-to-noise conditions, while accuracy decreases for blood-pool measurements and noisier images.

The authors explicitly identify two unresolved issues at the end of the paper: whether the reported findings generalize to alternative MOLLI acquisition schemes and whether MOLLI-based T2 estimation remains clinically useful in the presence of myocardial pathology. Resolving these issues is necessary before broader clinical adoption of simultaneous T1 and T2 mapping from a single MOLLI acquisition.