Reliability and Reproducibility of Metabolite Quantification Using ¹H MRS in the Human Brain at 3 T and 7 T

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroimaging
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background:

• Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS) is a non-invasive in vivo technique for biochemical quantification.
• Monitoring disease progression and treatment response relies on accurate ¹H MRS measurements.
• Evaluating the reliability and reproducibility of ¹H MRS is crucial for clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the reliability and reproducibility of STEAM and sLASER sequences for ¹H MRS at 3 T and 7 T.
• To assess the impact of measurement conditions on ¹H MRS data quality.
• To guide the selection of optimal ¹H MRS sequences and field strengths for research.

Main Methods:

• Test-retest reliability and reproducibility of ¹H MRS were assessed in healthy participants.
• Data were acquired using STEAM and sLASER sequences at 3 T and 7 T.
• Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and coefficients of variation (CV) were used for reliability and reproducibility assessment.

Main Results:

• The sLASER sequence exhibited superior reliability and reproducibility for most metabolites compared to STEAM at both 3 T and 7 T.
• While 7 T offered improved signal-to-noise ratio and resolution, 3 T proved a viable alternative.
• Consistent measurements over time are essential for longitudinal studies.

Conclusions:

• sLASER is a more reliable and reproducible sequence for ¹H MRS compared to STEAM.
• Both 3 T and 7 T field strengths are suitable for ¹H MRS, with 3 T being a practical option.
• This study provides critical data for selecting appropriate ¹H MRS protocols to enhance data consistency in research.