An algorithm for MR imaging of the short T2 fraction of sodium using the FID signal

Multiecho magnetic resonance imaging of 23Na in the human body could provide valuable information regarding the distribution of the sodium in the intracellular and extracellular spaces in living tissues. Since it is known that more than half the intracellular sodium has a T2 value of less than 3 ms, the conventional spin-echo imaging technique is not appropriate for the quantitative study of sodium in living tissues. A pulse sequence using the three-dimensional planar-integral projection reconstruction algorithm was developed to provide images from the free induction decay (FID) signal and from the spin-echo. Using this imaging sequence, we are able to produce human head images with the FID signal immediately following the 90 degrees radiofrequency pulse thus preserving the signal from the very short T2 components. This technique with a multiple echo imaging scheme may open the possibility of discriminating between intracellular and extracellular sodium compartments in the human brain based on the T2 relaxation properties.