Optimized quantitative magnetic resonance spectroscopy for clinical routine.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Neuroimaging
• Biophysics

Background:

• Clinical adoption of quantitative localized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qMRS) is hindered by practical challenges in data handling and evaluation.
• Existing methods lack seamless integration into routine Magnetic Resonance (MR) examinations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a clinically feasible MR pulse sequence protocol and software enhancements for routine qMRS.
• To streamline data transfer, visualization, reporting, and quantification for qMRS.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a new MR pulse sequence protocol for qMRS compatible with standard MR systems.
• Enhanced the jMRUI-v5.0 software with functionalities for DICOM data transfer, combined spectroscopy/imaging visualization, DICOM reporting, advanced water reference models, and metabolite concentration databases.
• Acquired spectroscopic data from 55 healthy subjects (age 6-61) using 1.5T and 3T MR systems to create normal metabolite concentration databases.
• Demonstrated the workflow with a clinical case of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

Main Results:

• Established a workflow for easy and fast DICOM data transfer and network transfer of spectroscopy reports.
• Enabled visualization of combined MR spectroscopy and imaging.
• Integrated advanced water reference models for absolute quantification.
• Created databases of normal metabolite concentrations in brain tissue for different age groups.
• Successfully applied the workflow in a clinical case of a brain tumor.

Conclusions:

• The developed MR pulse sequence protocol and jMRUI software functionalities significantly improve the clinical feasibility of qMRS.
• These advancements facilitate the routine incorporation of qMRS and reference metabolite concentration data into daily clinical practice.
• This work paves the way for broader clinical application of qMRS in neurological examinations.