Separation of true fat and water images by correcting magnetic field inhomogeneity in situ.

Dixon's method of chemical shift imaging of a two-component system is modified and extended without requiring additional imaging time. The modified method allows one to obtain truly segregated fat and water images of animal tissues. This is accomplished by acquiring additional image data from which information about in situ magnetic field inhomogeneity and bulk magnetic susceptibility can be derived. Applications to various anatomic sections of the normal human body are illustrated. The method is compared with the standard Dixon technique of chemical shift image separation.