A method and system for producing an image of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, in which the presence of a contrast agent is detected using a spin-lock pulse sequence, is described. More specifically, a contrast agent that induces saturation of magnetic resonance signals responsive to a spin-lock condition is administered to a subject. A spin-lock condition is subsequently established to saturate spins in proximity to the contrast agent. Image data is then acquired with an imaging pulse sequence and images indicative of the presence of the contrast agent are reconstructed.
