1) T1‑Weighted Imaging (T1WI)

What it highlights:

• Fat = bright
• Water/CSF = dark
• White matter > grey matter in brightness

Clinical uses:

• Anatomy (best structural detail)
• Fat‑containing lesions (lipomas, dermoids)
• Subacute haemorrhage (met‑Hb is bright)
• Post‑contrast scans (gadolinium enhances T1)

Think: T1 = anatomy + fat + contrast.

2) T2‑Weighted Imaging (T2WI)

What it highlights:

• Water = bright
• CSF is bright
• Oedema, inflammation, cysts all stand out

Clinical uses:

• Oedema (stroke, tumour, infection)