An experimental short echo delay (TE = 7 msec) T1-weighted spin-echo sequence was compared with a conventional (TE = 20 msec) T1-weighted spin-echo sequence in the assessment of normal and abnormal lung parenchyma. Comparison was also made with high-resolution CT of abnormal lung parenchyma.At 1.5 T, an experimental short echo delay T1-weighted multislice spin-echo sequence (TR = RR interval, TE = 7 msec) was compared with an optimal conventional T1-weighted spin-echo sequence (TR = RR interval, TE = 20 msec, spatial presaturation). Ten healthy volunteers were examined with both sequences. The mean signal intensity and signal-to-noise ratios were calculated in lung parenchyma for both sequences. Two radiologists compared the visualization of normal lung parenchymal structures with the two techniques. In 24 patients with diffuse lung disease, results with both MR sequences and with high-resolution CT were compared.The signal intensity was significantly greater (p < .001) with the TE of 7 msec than with the...