Real-time Correction of Motion and Imager Instability Artifacts during 3D γ-Aminobutyric Acid-edited MR Spectroscopic Imaging

Flexible Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring of Motion Artifacts in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In recent years, magnetic resonance imaging has been widely used in the medical field. During the scan, if the human body moves, then there will be motion artifacts on the scan image, which will interfere with the diagnosis and only be found after the end of the scan sequence, resulting in a waste of manpower and resources. However, there is a lack of technology that halts scanning once motion artifacts arise. Here, we designed a real-time monitoring sensor (RMS) to dynamically perceive the movement of the human body and to pause in time when the movement exceeds a certain amplitude. The sensor has an array structure that can accurately sense the position of the human body in real time. The selection of the RMS ensures that there is no additional interference with the scanning results. Based on this design, the RMS can achieve the monitoring function of motion artifact generation.

Predicting dynamic, motion-related changes in B0 field in the brain at a 7T MRI using a subject-specific fine-trained U-net

PURPOSE

Subject movement during the MR examination is inevitable and causes not only image artifacts but also deteriorates the homogeneity of the main magnetic field (B0 ), which is a prerequisite for high quality data. Thus, characterization of changes to B0 , for example induced by patient movement, is important for MR applications that are prone to B0 inhomogeneities.

METHODS

We propose a deep learning based method to predict such changes within the brain from the change of the head position to facilitate retrospective or even real-time correction. A 3D U-net was trained on in vivo gradient-echo brain 7T MRI data. The input consisted of B0 maps and anatomical images at an initial position, and anatomical images at a different head position (obtained by applying a rigid-body transformation on the initial anatomical image). The output consisted of B0 maps at the new head positions. We further fine-trained the network weights to each subject by measuring a limited number of head positions of the given subject, and trained the U-net with these data.

RESULTS

Our approach was compared to established dynamic B0 field mapping via interleaved navigators, which suffer from limited spatial resolution and the need for undesirable sequence modifications. Qualitative and quantitative comparison showed similar performance between an interleaved navigator-equivalent method and proposed method.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to predict B0 maps from rigid subject movement and, when combined with external tracking hardware, this information could be used to improve the quality of MR acquisitions without the use of navigators.

Uncertainty propagation in absolute metabolite quantification for in vivo MRS of the human brain

PURPOSE

Absolute spectral quantification is the standard method for deriving estimates of the concentration from metabolite signals measured using in vivo proton MRS (1 H-MRS). This method is often reported with minimum variance estimators, specifically the Cramér-Rao lower bound (CRLB) of the metabolite signal amplitude's scaling factor from linear combination modeling. This value serves as a proxy for SD and is commonly reported in MRS experiments. Characterizing the uncertainty of absolute quantification, however, depends on more than simply the CRLB. The uncertainties of metabolite-specific (T1m , T2m ), reference-specific (T1ref , T2ref ), and sequence-specific (TR , TE ) parameters are generally ignored, potentially leading to an overestimation of precision. In this study, the propagation of uncertainty is used to derive a comprehensive estimate of the overall precision of concentrations from an internal reference.

METHODS

The propagated uncertainty is calculated using analytical derivations and Monte Carlo simulations and subsequently analyzed across a set of commonly measured metabolites and macromolecules. The effect of measurement error from experimentally obtained quantification parameters is estimated using published uncertainties and CRLBs from in vivo 1 H-MRS literature.

RESULTS

The additive effect of propagated measurement uncertainty from applied quantification correction factors can result in up to a fourfold increase in the concentration estimate's coefficient of variation compared to the CRLB alone. A case study analysis reveals similar multifold increases across both metabolites and macromolecules.

CONCLUSION

The precision of absolute metabolite concentrations derived from 1 H-MRS experiments is systematically overestimated if the uncertainties of commonly applied corrections are neglected as sources of error.

Selectively Probing the Magnetic Resonance Signals of γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Human Brains In Vivo

BACKGROUND

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in human brains, playing a role in the pathogenesis of various psychiatric disorders. Current methods have some non-neglectable shortcomings and noninvasive and accurate detection of GABA in human brains is long-term challenge.

PURPOSE

To develop a pulse sequence capable of selectively detecting and quantifying the 1 H signal of GABA in human brains based on optimal controlled spin singlet order.

STUDY TYPE

Prospective.

SUBJECTS/PHANTOM

A phantom of GABA (pH = 7.3 ± 0.1) and 11 healthy subjects (5 females and 6 males, body mass index: 21 ± 3 kg/m2 , age: 25 ± 4 years).

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

7 Tesla, 3 Tesla, GABA-targeted magnetic resonance spectroscopy (GABA-MRS-7 T, GABA-MRS-3 T), magnetization prepared two rapid acquisition gradient echoes sequence.

ASSESSMENT

By using the developed pulse sequences applied on the phantom and healthy subjects, the signals of GABA were successfully selectively probed. Quantification of the signals yields the concentration of GABA in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) in human brains.

STATISTICAL TESTS

Frequency.

RESULTS

The 1 H signals of GABA in the phantom and in the human brains of healthy subjects were successfully detected. The concentration of GABA in the dACC of human brains was 3.3 ± 1.5 mM.

DATA CONCLUSION

The developed pulse sequences can be used to selectively probe the 1 H MR signals of GABA in human brains in vivo.

EVIDENCE LEVEL

1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1.

Reproducibility of 7-T brain spectroscopy using an ultrashort echo time STimulated Echo Acquisition Mode sequence and automated voxel repositioning

Establishing the reproducibility of brain MRS is important for clinical studies so that researchers can evaluate changes in metabolites due to treatment or the course of a disease and better understand the brain in healthy and disordered states. Prior 7-T MRS reproducibility studies using the stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) sequence have focused on the anterior cingulate cortex or posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of metabolite measurements in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using an ultrashort echo time (TE) STEAM sequence and automated voxel repositioning. Spectra were acquired during two scan sessions from nine subjects using the AutoAlign method for voxel repositioning. Reproducibility was evaluated with coefficients of variation (CVs) and percentage differences. The mean intrasubject CVs were less than 6% for the major metabolites glutamate, N-acetylaspartate, total creatine, total choline, and myo-inositol. The mean CVs were less than 20% for the smaller signals of GABA, glutamine, glutathione, and taurine. These results indicate that 7-T MRS using a STEAM sequence with ultrashort TE and automated voxel repositioning provides excellent reproducibility of metabolites in the DLPFC.

Inter-subject stability and regional concentration estimates of 3D-FID-MRSI in the human brain at 7 T

PURPOSE

Recently, a 3D-concentric ring trajectory (CRT)-based free induction decay (FID)-MRSI sequence was introduced for fast high-resolution metabolic imaging at 7 T. This technique provides metabolic ratio maps of almost the entire brain within clinically feasible scan times, but its robustness has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, we have assessed quantitative concentration estimates and their variability in healthy volunteers using this approach.

METHODS

We acquired whole-brain 3D-CRT-FID-MRSI at 7 T in 15 min with 3.4 mm nominal isometric resolution in 24 volunteers (12 male, 12 female, mean age 27 ± 6 years). Concentration estimate maps were calculated for 15 metabolites using internal water referencing and evaluated in 55 different regions of interest (ROIs) in the brain. Data quality, mean metabolite concentrations, and their inter-subject coefficients of variation (CVs) were compared for all ROIs.

RESULTS

Of 24 datasets, one was excluded due to motion artifacts. The concentrations of total choline, total creatine, glutamate, myo-inositol, and N-acetylaspartate in 44 regions were estimated within quality thresholds. Inter-subject CVs (mean over 44 ROIs/minimum/maximum) were 9%/5%/19% for total choline, 10%/6%/20% for total creatine, 11%/7%/24% for glutamate, 10%/6%/19% for myo-inositol, and 9%/6%/19% for N-acetylaspartate.

DISCUSSION

We defined the performance of 3D-CRT-based FID-MRSI for metabolite concentration estimate mapping, showing which metabolites could be robustly quantified in which ROIs with which inter-subject CVs expected. However, the basal brain regions and lesser-signal metabolites in particular remain as a challenge due susceptibility effects from the proximity to nasal and auditory cavities. Further improvement in quantification and the mitigation of B₀ /B₁ -field inhomogeneities will be necessary to achieve reliable whole-brain coverage.

Neurocognitive performance in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients is associated with metabolic abnormalities of the thalamus but not the hippocampus- GABA-edited 1H MRS study

OBJECTIVES

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that may cause physical disabling as well as cognitive dysfunction. The presented study investigated how the neuropsychological status depends on the thalamus and hippocampus's metabolic processes, using γ-aminobutyric acid-edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (GABA-edited ¹H MRS) in patients with early MS, and how the results differ from healthy volunteers.

METHODS

We recruited 36 relapsing-remitting (RRMS) MS patients and 22 controls (CON). In addition to common ¹H MRS metabolites, such as N-acetyl-aspartate (tNAA), myoinositol (mIns), total choline and creatine (tCr, tCho), we also evaluated GABA and glutamate/glutamine (Glx). Metabolite ratios were correlated with the results of Single-Digit Modality Test (SDMT) and Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS).

RESULTS

In the thalamus, GABA ratios (GABA/tCr, GABA/tNAA) were significantly lower in RRMS patients than in CON. Both tCho- and mIns-ratios correlated with lower scores of SDMT but not with EDSS. Metabolic ratios in the hippocampus did not differ between RRMS and CON and did not correlate with any of performed tests.

DISCUSSION

This study is the first to provide GABA-edited ¹H MRS evidence for MS-related metabolic changes of the thalamus and hippocampus. The findings underline the importance of evaluating subcortical grey matter in MS patients to improve understanding of the clinical manifestations of MS and as a potential future target for treatment.

Accelerated MR spectroscopic imaging-a review of current and emerging techniques

Over more than 30 years in vivo MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) has undergone an enormous evolution from theoretical concepts in the early 1980s to the robust imaging technique that it is today. The development of both fast and efficient sampling and reconstruction techniques has played a fundamental role in this process. State-of-the-art MRSI has grown from a slow purely phase-encoded acquisition technique to a method that today combines the benefits of different acceleration techniques. These include shortening of repetition times, spatial-spectral encoding, undersampling of k-space and time domain, and use of spatial-spectral prior knowledge in the reconstruction. In this way in vivo MRSI has considerably advanced in terms of spatial coverage, spatial resolution, acquisition speed, artifact suppression, number of detectable metabolites and quantification precision. Acceleration not only has been the enabling factor in high-resolution whole-brain 1 H-MRSI, but today is also common in non-proton MRSI (31 P, 2 H and 13 C) and applied in many different organs. In this process, MRSI techniques had to constantly adapt, but have also benefitted from the significant increase of magnetic field strength boosting the signal-to-noise ratio along with high gradient fidelity and high-density receive arrays. In combination with recent trends in image reconstruction and much improved computation power, these advances led to a number of novel developments with respect to MRSI acceleration. Today MRSI allows for non-invasive and non-ionizing mapping of the spatial distribution of various metabolites' tissue concentrations in animals or humans, is applied for clinical diagnostics and has been established as an important tool for neuro-scientific and metabolism research. This review highlights the developments of the last five years and puts them into the context of earlier MRSI acceleration techniques. In addition to 1 H-MRSI it also includes other relevant nuclei and is not limited to certain body regions or specific applications.

Atlas-based GABA mapping with 3D MEGA-MRSI: Cross-correlation to single-voxel MRS

The purpose of this work is to develop and validate a new atlas-based metabolite quantification pipeline for edited magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MEGA-MRSI) that enables group comparisons of brain structure-specific GABA levels. By using brain structure masks segmented from high-resolution MPRAGE images and coregistering these to MEGA-LASER 3D MRSI data, an automated regional quantification of neurochemical levels is demonstrated for the example of the thalamus. Thalamic gamma-aminobutyric acid + coedited macromolecules (GABA+) levels from 21 healthy subjects scanned at 3 T were cross-validated both against a single-voxel MEGA-PRESS acquisition in the same subjects and same scan sessions, as well as alternative MRSI processing techniques (ROI approach, four-voxel approach) using Pearson correlation analysis. In addition, reproducibility was compared across the MRSI processing techniques in test-retest data from 14 subjects. The atlas-based approach showed a significant correlation with SV MEGA-PRESS (correlation coefficient r [GABA+] = 0.63, P < 0.0001). However, the actual values for GABA+, NAA, tCr, GABA+/tCr and tNAA/tCr obtained from the atlas-based approach showed an offset to SV MEGA-PRESS levels, likely due to the fact that on average the thalamus mask used for the atlas-based approach only occupied 30% of the SVS volume, ie, somewhat different anatomies were sampled. Furthermore, the new atlas-based approach showed highly reproducible GABA+/tCr values with a low median coefficient of variance of 6.3%. In conclusion, the atlas-based metabolite quantification approach enables a more brain structure-specific comparison of GABA+ and other neurochemical levels across populations, even when using an MRSI technique with only cm-level resolution. This approach was successfully cross-validated against the typically used SVS technique as well as other different MRSI analysis methods, indicating the robustness of this quantification approach.

Motion correction methods for MRS: experts' consensus recommendations

Long acquisition times due to intrinsically low signal-to-noise ratio and the need for highly homogeneous B₀ field make MRS particularly susceptible to motion or scanner instability compared with MRI. Motion-induced changes in both localization and shimming (ie B₀ homogeneity) degrade MRS data quality. To mitigate the effects of motion three approaches can be employed: (1) subject immobilization, (2) retrospective correction, and (3) prospective real-time correction using internal and/or external tracking methods. Prospective real-time correction methods can simultaneously update localization and the B₀ field to improve MRS data quality. While localization errors can be corrected with both internal (navigators) and external (optical camera, NMR probes) tracking methods, the B₀ field correction requires internal navigator methods to measure the B₀ field inside the imaged volume and the possibility to update the scanner shim hardware in real time. Internal and external tracking can rapidly update the MRS localization with submillimeter and subdegree precision, while scanner frequency and first-order shims of scanner hardware can be updated by internal methods every sequence repetition. These approaches are most well developed for neuroimaging, for which rigid transformation is primarily applicable. Real-time correction greatly improves the stability of MRS acquisition and quantification, as shown in clinical studies on subjects prone to motion, including children and patients with movement disorders, enabling robust measurement of metabolite signals including those with low concentrations, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutathione. Thus, motion correction is recommended for MRS users and calls for tighter integration and wider availability of such methods by MR scanner manufacturers.

Real-time motion and retrospective coil sensitivity correction for CEST using volumetric navigators (vNavs) at 7T

PURPOSE

To explore the impact of temporal motion-induced coil sensitivity changes on CEST-MRI at 7T and its correction using interleaved volumetric EPI navigators, which are applied for real-time motion correction.

METHODS

Five healthy volunteers were scanned via CEST. A 4-fold correction pipeline allowed the mitigation of (1) motion, (2) motion-induced coil sensitivity variations, ΔB1- , (3) motion-induced static magnetic field inhomogeneities, ΔB₀ , and (4) spatially varying transmit RF field fluctuations, ΔB1+ . Four CEST measurements were performed per session. For the first 2, motion correction was turned OFF and then ON in absence of voluntary motion, whereas in the other 2 controlled head rotations were performed. During post-processing ΔB1- was removed additionally for the motion-corrected cases, resulting in a total of 6 scenarios to be compared. In all cases, retrospective ∆B₀ and - ΔB1+ corrections were performed to compute artifact-free magnetization transfer ratio maps with asymmetric analysis (MTR_asym ).

RESULTS

Dynamic ΔB1- correction successfully mitigated signal deviations caused by head motion. In 2 frontal lobe regions of volunteer 4, induced relative signal errors of 10.9% and 3.9% were reduced to 1.1% and 1.0% after correction. In the right frontal lobe, the motion-corrected MTR_asym contrast deviated 0.92%, 1.21%, and 2.97% relative to the static case for Δω = 1, 2, 3 ± 0.25 ppm. The additional application of ΔB1- correction reduced these deviations to 0.10%, 0.14%, and 0.42%. The fully corrected MTR_asym values were highly consistent between measurements with and without intended head rotations.

CONCLUSION

Temporal ΔB1- cause significant CEST quantification bias. The presented correction pipeline including the proposed retrospective ΔB1- correction significantly reduced motion-related artifacts on CEST-MRI.

Effects of SSRI treatment on GABA and glutamate levels in an associative relearning paradigm

Impaired cognitive flexibility represents a widespread symptom in psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), a disease, characterized by an imbalance of neuro-transmitter concentrations. While memory formation is mostly associated with glutamate, also gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin show attributions in a complex interplay between neurotransmitter systems. Treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) does not solely affect the serotonergic system but shows downstream effects on GABA- and glutamatergic neurotransmission, potentially helping to restore cognitive function via neuroplastic effects. Hence, this study aims to elaborate the effects of associative relearning and SSRI treatment on GABAergic and glutamatergic function within and between five brain regions using magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI).

In this study, healthy subjects were randomized into four groups which underwent three weeks of an associative relearning paradigm, with or without emotional connotation, under SSRI (10mg escitalopram) or placebo administration. MRSI measurements, using a spiral-encoded, 3D-GABA-edited MEGA-LASER sequence at 3T, were performed on the first and last day of relearning. Mean GABA+/tCr (GABA+ = GABA + macromolecules; tCr = total creatine) and Glx/tCr (Glx = glutamate + glutamine) ratios were quantified in a ROI-based approach for the hippocampus, insula, putamen, pallidum and thalamus, using LCModel. A total of 66 subjects ((37 female, mean age ± SD = 25.4±4.7) for Glx/tCr and 58 subjects (32 female, mean age ± SD = 25.1±4.7) for GABA+/tCr were included in the final analysis.

A significant measurement by region and treatment (SSRI vs placebo) interaction on Glx/tCr ratios was found (p_cor=0.017), with post hoc tests confirming differential effects on hippocampus and thalamus (p_cor=0.046). Moreover, treatment by time comparison, for each ROI independently, showed a reduction of hippocampal Glx/tCr ratios after SSRI treatment (p_uncor=0.033). No significant treatment effects on GABA+/tCr ratios or effects of relearning condition on any neurotransmitter ratio could be found.

Here, we showed a significant SSRI- and relearning-driven interaction effect of hippocampal and thalamic Glx/tCr levels, suggesting differential behavior based on different serotonin transporter and receptor densities. Moreover, an indication for Glx/tCr adaptions in the hippocampus after three weeks of SSRI treatment could be revealed. Our findings are in line with animal studies reporting glutamate adaptions in the hippocampus following chronic SSRI intake. Due to the complex interplay of serotonin and hippocampal function, involving multiple serotonin receptor subtypes on glutamatergic cells and GABAergic interneurons, the interpretation of underlying neurobiological actions remains challenging.

Motion correction in magnetic resonance spectroscopy

In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and spectroscopic imaging (MRS/MRSI) are valuable tools to study normal and abnormal human brain physiology. However, they are sensitive to motion, due to strong crusher gradients, long acquisition times, reliance on high magnetic field homogeneity, and particular acquisition methods such as spectral editing. The effects of motion include incorrect spatial localization, phase fluctuations, incoherent averaging, line broadening, and ultimately quantitation errors. Several retrospective methods have been proposed to correct motion-related artifacts. Recent advances in hardware also allow prospective (real-time) correction of the effects of motion, including adjusting voxel location, center frequency, and magnetic field homogeneity. This article reviews prospective and retrospective methods available in the literature and their implications for clinical MRS/MRSI. In combination, these methods can attenuate or eliminate most motion-related artifacts and facilitate the acquisition of high-quality data in the clinical research setting.

Clinical High-Resolution 3D-MR Spectroscopic Imaging of the Human Brain at 7 T

OBJECTIVES

Available clinical magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) sequences are hampered by long scan times, low spatial resolution, strong field inhomogeneities, limited volume coverage, and low signal-to-noise ratio. High-resolution, whole-brain mapping of more metabolites than just N-acetylaspartate, choline, and creatine within clinically attractive scan times is urgently needed for clinical applications. The aim is therefore to develop a free induction decay (FID) MRSI sequence with rapid concentric ring trajectory (CRT) encoding for 7 T and demonstrate its clinical feasibility for mapping the whole cerebrum of healthy volunteers and patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were obtained. Time-efficient, 3-dimensional encoding of an ellipsoidal k-space by in-plane CRT and through-plane phase encoding was integrated into an FID-MRSI sequence. To reduce scan times further, repetition times were shortened, and variable temporal interleaves were applied. Measurements with different matrix sizes were performed to validate the CRT encoding in a resolution phantom. One multiple sclerosis patient, 1 glioma patient, and 6 healthy volunteers were prospectively measured. For the healthy volunteers, brain segmentation was performed to quantify median metabolic ratios, Cramér-Rao lower bounds (CRLBs), signal-to-noise ratios, linewidths, and brain coverage among all measured matrix sizes ranging from a 32 × 32 × 31 matrix with 6.9 × 6.9 × 4.2 mm nominal voxel size acquired in ~3 minutes to an 80 × 80 × 47 matrix with 2.7 × 2.7 × 2.7 mm nominal voxel size in ~15 minutes for different brain regions.

RESULTS

Phantom structures with diameters down to 3 to 4 mm were visible. In vivo MRSI provided high spectral quality (median signal-to-noise ratios, >6.3 and linewidths, <0.082 ppm) and fitting quality. Cramér-Rao lower bounds were ranging from less than 22% for glutamine (highest CRLB in subcortical gray matter) to less than 9.5% for N-acetylaspartate for the 80 × 80 × 47 matrix (highest CRLB in the temporal lobe). This enabled reliable mapping of up to 8 metabolites (N-acetylaspartate, N-acetylaspartyl glutamate, total creatine, glutamine, glutamate, total choline, myo-inositol, glycine) and macromolecules for all resolutions. Coverage of the whole cerebrum allowed visualization of the full extent of diffuse and local multiple sclerosis-related neurochemical changes (eg, up to 100% increased myo-inositol). Three-dimensional brain tumor metabolic maps provided valuable information beyond that of single-slice MRSI, with up to 200% higher choline, up to 100% increased glutamine, and increased glycine in tumor tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Seven Tesla FID-MRSI with time-efficient CRT readouts offers clinically attractive acquisition protocols tailored either for speed or for the investigation of small pathologic details and low-abundant metabolites. This can complement clinical MR studies of various brain disorders. Significant metabolic anomalies were demonstrated in a multiple sclerosis and a glioma patient for myo-inositol, glutamine, total choline, glycine, and N-acetylaspartate concentrations.

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

Purpose

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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%.

Conclusion

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.

Non-Cartesian GRAPPA and coil combination using interleaved calibration data - application to concentric-ring MRSI of the human brain at 7T

PURPOSE

Proton MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) benefits from B₀ ≥ 7T and multichannel receive coils, promising substantial resolution improvements. However, MRSI acquisition with high spatial resolution requires efficient acceleration and coil combination. To speed up the already-fast sampling via concentric rings, we implemented additional, non-Cartesian, hybrid through-time/through-k-space (tt/tk)-generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA). A new multipurpose interleaved calibration scan (interleaved MUSICAL) acquires reference data for both coil combination and PI. This renders the reconstruction process (especially PI) less sensitive to instabilities.

METHODS

Six healthy volunteers were scanned at 7T. Three calibration datasets for coil combination and PI were recorded: a) iMUSICAL, b) static MUSICAL as prescan, c) moved MUSICAL as prescan with misaligned head position. The coil combination performance, including motion sensitivity, of iMUSICAL was compared to MUSICAL for single-slice free induction decay (FID)-MRSI. Through-time/through-k-space-GRAPPA with constant/variable-density undersampling was evaluated on the same data, comparing the three calibration datasets. Additionally, the proposed method was successfully applied to 3D whole-brain FID-MRSI.

RESULTS

Using iMUSICAL for coil combination yielded the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (+9%) and lowest Cramer-Rao lower bounds (CRLBs) (-6%) compared to both MUSICAL approaches, with similar metabolic map quality. Also, excellent mean g-factors of 1.07 and low residual lipid aliasing were obtained when using iMUSICAL as calibration data for two-fold, variable-density undersampling, while significantly degraded metabolic maps were obtained using the misaligned MUSICAL calibration data.

CONCLUSION

Through-time/through-k-space-GRAPPA can accelerate already time-efficient non-Cartesian spatial-spectral 2D/3D-MRSI encoding even further. Particularly promising results have been achieved using iMUSICAL as a robust, interleaved multipurpose calibration for MRSI reconstruction, without extra calibration prescan.

Combining multiband slice selection with consistent k-t-space EPSI for accelerated spectral imaging

PURPOSE

To design and implement a multislice MRSI method for fast spectroscopic imaging, using a modified version of echo planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) that offers higher spectral width and/or shorter scan time.

METHODS

Echo planar spectroscopic imaging suffers from inconsistencies between readout lines acquired with gradients of opposite signs, which has typically been addressed by reconstructing the "positive" and "negative" data sets separately and averaging the two. Nevertheless, consistency between the readout lines of each phase encode can be achieved by interposing the EPSI readouts with alternating "blipped" phase-encode gradients. This method exchanges inconsistencies along the temporal dimension with inconsistencies along the phase-encode dimension, which are straightforward to correct, as is conventionally done in various EPI reconstruction schemes. Such consistent k-t-space EPSI doubles the spectral width in comparison to EPSI, or, in an alternative realization, yields the same spectral width as EPSI, but at half the acquisition time. In this work, multiband CAIPIRINHA (controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration) slice selection was integrated with consistent k-t-space EPSI to further accelerate the measurement 2-fold.

RESULTS

The feasibility of a consistent k-t-space EPSI was demonstrated in both phantoms and in vivo brain imaging at 3 T, and four pulse scheme variants were evaluated. It was demonstrated to be useful in optimizing the spectral width and scan acceleration, both of which are limiting factors in vivo. Dual-band implementation was shown to shorten the duration of the scan 4-fold.

CONCLUSION

The consistent k-t-space EPSI can be used to accelerate MRSI or, alternatively, double its spectral width. Adding dual-band CAIPIRINHA further accelerates the acquisition by a factor of 2.

Whole-slice mapping of GABA and GABA+ at 7T via adiabatic MEGA-editing, real-time instability correction, and concentric circle readout

An adiabatic MEscher-GArwood (MEGA)-editing scheme, using asymmetric hyperbolic secant editing pulses, was developed and implemented in a B1+-insensitive, 1D-semiLASER (Localization by Adiabatic SElective Refocusing) MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) sequence for the non-invasive mapping of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) over a whole brain slice. Our approach exploits the advantages of edited-MRSI at 7T while tackling challenges that arise with ultra-high-field-scans. Spatial-spectral encoding, using density-weighted, concentric circle echo planar trajectory readout, enabled substantial MRSI acceleration and an improved point-spread-function, thereby reducing extracranial lipid signals. Subject motion and scanner instabilities were corrected in real-time using volumetric navigators optimized for 7T, in combination with selective reacquisition of corrupted data to ensure robust subtraction-based MEGA-editing. Simulations and phantom measurements of the adiabatic MEGA-editing scheme demonstrated stable editing efficiency even in the presence of ±0.15 ppm editing frequency offsets and B1+ variations of up to ±30% (as typically encountered in vivo at 7T), in contrast to conventional Gaussian editing pulses. Volunteer measurements were performed with and without global inversion recovery (IR) to study regional GABA levels and their underlying, co-edited, macromolecular (MM) signals at 2.99 ppm. High-quality in vivo spectra allowed mapping of pure GABA and MM-contaminated GABA+ (GABA + MM) along with Glx (Glu + Gln), with high-resolution (eff. voxel size: 1.4 cm3) and whole-slice coverage in 24 min scan time. Metabolic ratio maps of GABA/tNAA, GABA+/tNAA, and Glx/tNAA were correlated linearly with the gray matter fraction of each voxel. A 2.15-fold increase in gray matter to white matter contrast was observed for GABA when enabling IR, which we attribute to the higher abundance of macromolecules at 2.99 ppm in the white matter than in the gray matter. In conclusion, adiabatic MEGA-editing with 1D-semiLASER selection is as a promising approach for edited-MRSI at 7T. Our sequence capitalizes on the benefits of ultra-high-field MRSI while successfully mitigating the challenges related to B0/B1+ inhomogeneities, prolonged scan times, and motion/scanner instability artifacts. Robust and accurate 2D mapping has been shown for the neurotransmitters GABA and Glx.