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Ultrafast Z-spectroscopic imaging in vivo at 3T using through-slice spectral encoding (TS-UFZ)
Chongxue Bie1,2,3, Peter C M van Zijl1,2, Deng Mao1,4
1F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
|November 14, 2022
Summary
This study introduces a new method for faster MRI scans, improving the quality of ultrafast Z-spectroscopy (UFZ) for better in vivo imaging of the human brain.
Area of Science:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Biomedical Engineering
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Conventional Z-spectra acquisition for CEST/MTC MRI is time-consuming.
- Ultrafast Z-spectroscopy (UFZ) offers faster acquisition but suffers from insufficient in vivo spectral quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a simple approach to enhance the quality of in vivo UFZ spectra.
- To improve signal stability and spectral uniformity in UFZ imaging.
Main Methods:
- Developed through-slice Z-spectral encoding (TS-UFZ) by applying saturation gradient and readout in the slice direction.
- Utilized phase-encoding in both in-plane directions for under-sampling and acceleration.
- Acquired Z-spectra in phantoms and in vivo human brain at 3T.
Main Results:
- TS-UFZ demonstrated excellent agreement with conventional methods in phantoms.
- In vivo brain spectra showed improved baseline stability despite flow artifacts.
- CEST and APT signals were successfully quantified, comparable in magnitude to conventional CEST.
Conclusions:
- TS-UFZ significantly improves signal stability and spectral uniformity compared to previous UFZ methods.
- Enables high spectral-resolution imaging of saturation transfer effects in the human brain.
- Facilitates further acceleration for dynamic CEST mapping with practical temporal resolution.
