Adaptive and interactive assessment of tissue properties in MR imaging

A system for evaluating iron deposition of tissue from Magnetic Resonance (MR) signal data of the tissue, the system comprising:

• an image data processor configured to select a particular parameter for each individual image element of a plurality of individual image elements of an MR image of the tissue;
• and
• a display processor configured to generate data representing the MR image using the particular parameter selected to represent each of the individual image elements,
• wherein a and b are constants selected for the MR image such that 0≦a≦b≦1;
• wherein FP represents a fat percentage determined for the individual image element based on local proton densities of fat and water;
• and
• wherein:
• the particular parameter is a parameter associated with water when FP≦a;
• the particular parameter is a parameter associated with a fat/water mixture having a fat percentage FP when a<FP≦b;
• and
• the particular parameter is a parameter associated with fat when FP>b.

A method of evaluating properties of tissue from Magnetic Resonance (MR) signal data of the tissue, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a data image processor, a plurality of individual image elements of an MR image of the tissue;
• selecting, by the data image processor, for each of the individual image elements of the plurality of individual image elements of the MR image of the tissue, a particular parameter from a plurality of parameters of the tissue;
• and
• generating, at a display processor, data representing the MR image using the particular parameters to represent the individual image elements,
• wherein the plurality of parameters include a first parameter associated with water, a second parameter associated with a fat/water mixture having a fat percentage FP determined for the individual image element, and a third parameter associated with fat;
• wherein a and b are constants selected for the MR image such that 0≦a≦b≦1;
• and
• wherein the particular parameter is equal to:
• the first parameter when FP≦a;
• the second parameter when a<FP≦b;
• and
• the third parameter when FP>b.