Intra-session and inter-subject variability of 3D-FID-MRSI using single-echo volumetric EPI navigators at 3T

In this study, we demonstrate the first combination of 3D FID proton MRSI and spatial encoding via concentric-ring trajectories (CRTs) at 3T. FID-MRSI has many benefits including high detection sensitivity, in particular for J-coupled metabolites (e.g., glutamate/glutamine). This makes it highly attractive, not only for clinical, but also for, potentially, functional MRSI. However, this requires excellent reliability and temporal stability. We have, therefore, augmented this 3D-FID-MRSI sequence with single-echo, imaging-based volumetric navigators (se-vNavs) for real-time motion/shim-correction (SHMOCO), which is 2× quicker than the original double-echo navigators (de-vNavs), hence allowing more efficient integration also in short-TR sequences.

The tracking accuracy (position and B₀ -field) of our proposed se-vNavs was compared to the original de-vNavs in phantoms (rest and translation) and in vivo (voluntary head rotation). Finally, the intra-session stability of a 5:40 min 3D-FID-MRSI scan was evaluated with SHMOCO and no correction (NOCO) in 5 resting subjects. Intra/inter-subject coefficients of variation (CV) and intra-class correlations (ICC) over the whole 3D volume and in selected regions of interest ROI were assessed.

Phantom and in vivo scans showed highly consistent tracking performance for se-vNavs compared to the original de-vNavs, but lower frequency drift. Up to ~30% better intra-subject CVs were obtained for SHMOCO (P < 0.05), with values of 9.3/6.9/6.5/7.8% over the full VOI for Glx/tNAA/tCho/m-Ins ratios to tCr. ICCs were good-to-high (91% for Glx/tCr in motor cortex), whereas the inter-subject variability was ~11-19%.

Real-time motion/shim corrected 3D-FID-MRSI with time-efficient CRT-sampling at 3T allows reliable, high-resolution metabolic imaging that is fast enough for clinical use and even, potentially, for functional MRSI.