Image Selected In Vivo Spectroscopy Research Articles

Phosphorus MRS of healthy human spleen.

Phosphorus (31P‐) MRS in vivo enables detection and quantification of important phosphorus‐containing metabolites in biological tissues. 31P‐MRS of the normal spleen is challenging due to the relatively small volume and the larger distance between the spleen and surface coil. However, reference spectra of the healthy spleen are invaluable in studies of splenic malignancies and benign causes of splenomegaly, as well as in the study of its physiology. The purpose of this work was to investigate the feasibility of localized 31P‐MRS of healthy spleen in situ in a clinically acceptable measurement time using a clinical 3 T MR scanner. In this work, 31P spectra of five healthy volunteers were measured using single‐voxel image‐selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS). The measurement sequence was augmented by broadband proton decoupling and nuclear Overhauser effect enhancement. It is demonstrated that localized 31P‐MRS of the spleen in situ using single‐voxel ISIS is feasible on a clinical 3 T scanner in a clinically acceptable acquisition time. However, results have to be corrected for the transmitter excitation profile, and chemical shift displacement errors need to be taken into consideration during placement of the volume of interest. Results presented here could be used as a reference in future studies of splenomegaly caused by haematological malignancies.

Comparison of four 31P single-voxel MRS sequences in the human brain at 9.4 T.

In this study, different single-voxel localization sequences were implemented and systematically compared for the first time for phosphorous MRS (31 P-MRS) in the human brain at 9.4 T. Two multishot sequences, image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) and a conventional slice-selective excitation combined with localization by adiabatic selective refocusing (semiLASER) variant of the spin-echo full intensity-acquired localized spectroscopy (SPECIAL-semiLASER), and two single-shot sequences, semiLASER and stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM), were implemented and optimized for 31 P-MRS in the human brain at 9.4 T. Pulses and coil setup were optimized, localization accuracy was tested in phantom experiments, and absolute SNR of the sequences was compared in vivo. The SNR per unit time (SNR/t) was derived and compared for all four sequences and verified experimentally for ISIS in two different voxel sizes (3 × 3 × 3 cm3 , 5 × 5 × 5 cm3 , 10-minute measurement time). Metabolite signals obtained with ISIS were quantified. The possible spectral quality in vivo acquired in clinically feasible time (3:30 minutes, 3 × 3 × 3 cm3 ) was explored for two different coil setups. All evaluated sequences performed with good localization accuracy in phantom experiments and provided well-resolved spectra in vivo. However, ISIS has the lowest chemical shift displacement error, the best localization accuracy, the highest SNR/t for most metabolites, provides metabolite concentrations comparable to literature values, and is the only one of the sequences that allows for the detection of the whole 31 P spectrum, including β-adenosine triphosphate, with the used setup. The SNR/t of STEAM is comparable to the SNR/t of ISIS. The semiLASER and SPECIAL-semiLASER sequences provide good results for metabolites with long T2 . At 9.4 T, high-quality single-voxel localized 31 P-MRS can be performed in the human brain with different localization methods, each with inherent characteristics suitable for different research issues.

Short echo time relaxation-enhanced MR spectroscopy reveals broad downfield resonances.

Most MR spectroscopy (MRS) pulse sequences rely on broadband excitation with water saturation and typically focus on upfield signals. By contrast, the downfield spectrum, which contains many potentially useful resonances, is typically not targeted because conventional water-suppressed techniques indirectly saturate the labile protons through exchange. Relaxation-enhanced MRS (RE-MRS) uses frequency-selective excitation while actively avoiding bulk water perturbation, thereby enabling high-quality downfield spectroscopy. However, RE-MRS typically requires very long (typically >40 ms) echo times (TEs) due to its localization module, which inevitably decreases sensitivity and filters shorter T2 components. Here, we overcome this limitation by combining RE-MRS and image selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) localization, abbreviated iRE-MRS, which in turn allows very short TEs (5 ms using our hardware). Experiments were performed in vitro for validation as well as and in in vivo rat brains at 9.4T. The new iRE-MRS methodology was validated in phantoms where good performance was noted. When the downfield spectrum was investigated at short TEs in in vivo rat brains, iRE-MRS provided very high sensitivity; the ensuing downfield spectra encompassed numerous broad peaks, as well as a broad baseline. All downfield spectral peaks were highly attenuated by increasing TEs as well as by applying water saturation, although to different extent. The signal ratios also varied between TEs, suggesting that exchange rates are different among the downfield signals. Short-TE iRE 1 H downfield MRS opens new directions in the investigation of in vivo downfield metabolites and their role on healthy and disease processes.

Optimization of 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo

The main problem of magnetic resonance spectroscopy on phosphorus nuclei (31P MRS) is low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of spectra acquired on clinical (3T) scanners. This makes quantitative processing of spectra difficult. The optimization of method on a single-voxel model reported in current work implicates an impact of the spin-lattice (T1) relaxation on SNR, and also evaluates the effectiveness of Image Selected InVivo Spectroscopy (ISIS) pulse sequence modification for the increase of SNR.

Human Cardiac 31P-MR Spectroscopy at 3 Tesla Cannot Detect Failing Myocardial Energy Homeostasis during Exercise.

Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) is a unique non-invasive imaging modality for probing in vivo high-energy phosphate metabolism in the human heart. We investigated whether current 31P-MRS methodology would allow for clinical applications to detect exercise-induced changes in (patho-)physiological myocardial energy metabolism. Hereto, measurement variability and repeatability of three commonly used localized 31P-MRS methods [3D image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) and 1D ISIS with 1D chemical shift imaging (CSI) oriented either perpendicular or parallel to the surface coil] to quantify the myocardial phosphocreatine (PCr) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) ratio in healthy humans (n = 8) at rest were determined on a clinical 3 Tesla MR system. Numerical simulations of myocardial energy homeostasis in response to increased cardiac work rates were performed using a biophysical model of myocardial oxidative metabolism. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was modeled by either inefficient sarcomere ATP utilization or decreased mitochondrial ATP synthesis. The effect of creatine depletion on myocardial energy homeostasis was explored for both conditions. The mean in vivo myocardial PCr/ATP ratio measured with 3D ISIS was 1.57 ± 0.17 with a large repeatability coefficient of 40.4%. For 1D CSI in a 1D ISIS-selected slice perpendicular to the surface coil, the PCr/ATP ratio was 2.78 ± 0.50 (repeatability 42.5%). With 1D CSI in a 1D ISIS-selected slice parallel to the surface coil, the PCr/ATP ratio was 1.70 ± 0.56 (repeatability 43.7%). The model predicted a PCr/ATP ratio reduction of only 10% at the maximal cardiac work rate in normal myocardium. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy led to lower PCr/ATP ratios for high cardiac work rates, which was exacerbated by creatine depletion. Simulations illustrated that when conducting cardiac 31P-MRS exercise stress testing with large measurement error margins, results obtained under pathophysiologic conditions may still lie well within the 95% confidence interval of normal myocardial PCr/ATP dynamics. Current measurement precision of localized 31P-MRS for quantification of the myocardial PCr/ATP ratio precludes the detection of the changes predicted by computational modeling. This hampers clinical employment of 31P-MRS for diagnostic testing and risk stratification, and warrants developments in cardiac 31P-MRS exercise stress testing methodology.

Reproducibility of creatine kinase reaction kinetics in human heart: a31P time-dependent saturation transfer spectroscopy study

Creatine kinase (CK) is essential for the buffering and rapid regeneration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in heart tissue. Herein, we demonstrate a (31) P MRS protocol to quantify CK reaction kinetics in human myocardium at 3 T. Furthermore, we sought to quantify the test-retest reliability of the measured metabolic parameters. The method localizes the (31) P signal from the heart using modified one-dimensional image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS), and a time-dependent saturation transfer (TDST) approach was used to measure CK reaction parameters. Fifteen healthy volunteers (22 measurements in total) were tested. The CK reaction rate constant (kf ) was 0.32 ± 0.05 s(-1) and the coefficient of variation (CV) was 15.62%. The intrinsic T1 for phosphocreatine (PCr) was 7.36 ± 1.79 s with CV = 24.32%. These values are consistent with those reported previously. The PCr/ATP ratio was equal to 1.94 ± 0.15 with CV = 7.73%, which is within the range of healthy subjects. The reproducibility of the technique was tested in seven subjects and inferred parameters, such as kf and T1 , exhibited good reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.90 and 0.79 for kf and T1 , respectively). The reproducibility data provided in this study will enable the calculation of the power and sample sizes required for clinical and research studies. The technique will allow for the examination of cardiac energy metabolism in clinical and research studies, providing insight into the relationship between energy deficit and functional deficiency in the heart.

Absolute Quantitation of Glutamate, GABA and Glutamine using Localized 2D Constant-time COSY Spectroscopy in Vivo

We propose an absolute quantitation method for metabolites with strongly coupled spin systems using localized 2-dimensional (2D) constant-time correlation spectroscopy (CT-COSY). We also develop two methods for improving the quality of in vivo CT-COSY spectra. We substituted an image selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) pulse for a 180° slice pulse in the CT-COSY module to decrease the slice displacement error caused by the chemical shift difference. We measured the slice displacement error due to the differences in the carrier frequency of slice pulse in a phantom experiment to demonstrate this feature. We also developed an asymmetric sampling scheme along the t1 direction to resolve diagonal peaks even in the magnitude mode of 2D spectra. We collected CT-COSY signals of a human brain for a 14% asymmetric sampling scheme. After reconstruction, we obtained a 2D CT-COSY spectrum in magnitude mode and compared a peak of glutamate (Glu) C4H on that spectrum to a peak displayed in absorption mode. In our proposed absolute quantitation method, we developed T2 correction, curve-fitting for computing peak volume and calibration by an internal water reference. We used the method to measure the Glu concentration in 10-mM glutamate phantom experiments. We also attempted to measure concentrations of Glu, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamine (Gln) in a human brain. Slice displacement error was decreased by a factor of 2.5 using the proposed sequence. Spectra with narrow linewidths could be obtained using the asymmetric sampling scheme in the magnitude mode. Measured Glu concentration in the solution phantom was 9.4 mM. Concentrations of Glu (9.5 mM), GABA (0.61 mM) and Gln (3.6 mM) in a human brain measured by our method agreed well with previously reported values. Concentrations of metabolites with strongly coupled spin systems can be measured using our proposed absolute quantitation method on 2D CT-COSY spectra.

J‐refocused 1H PRESS DEPT for localized 13C MR Spectroscopy

Proton point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) localization has been combined with distortionless enhanced polarization transfer (DEPT) in multinuclear MRS to overcome the signal contamination problem in image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS)-combined DEPT, especially for lipid detection. However, homonuclear proton scalar couplings reduce the DEPT enhancement by modifying the spin coherence distribution under J modulation during proton PRESS localization. Herein, a J-refocused proton PRESS-localized DEPT sequence is presented to obtain simultaneously enhanced and localized signals from a large number of metabolites by in vivo (13) C MRS. The suppression of J modulation during PRESS and the substantial recovery of signal enhancement by J-refocused PRESS-localized DEPT were demonstrated theoretically by product operator formalism, numerically by the spin density matrix simulations for different scalar coupling conditions, and experimentally with a glutamate phantom at various TEs, as well as a colza oil phantom. The application of the sequence for localized detection of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the calf bone marrow and skeletal muscle of healthy subjects yielded high signal enhancements simultaneously obtained for all components.

In vivo cardiac 31P MRS in a mouse model of heart failure

ObjectiveTo investigate myocardial energy status in a mouse model of heart failure using in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice underwent thoracic aortic constriction (TAC) surgery, inducing pressure‐overload cardiomyopathy, and were measured seven weeks after surgery (n = 5). Healthy wild‐type mice served as controls (n = 4). Cardiac cine 1H MR images were made for reference purposes and to quantify left ventricular (LV) function. Cardiac 31P MR spectra were measured from a ~6 mm cubic voxel enclosing the end‐diastolic LV myocardium using ECG triggered, respiratory gated 3D Image‐Selected In vivo Spectroscopy (ISIS).ResultsLV end‐diastolic volume and LV mass normalized to body weight were higher in TAC mice compared to controls (91.7 ± 19.0 versus 61.8 ± 6.0 μL and 4.4 ± 0.6 versus 3.1 ± 0.2 mg/g, P < 0.01), whereas LV ejection fraction was reduced in TAC mice (45.4 ± 20.0 versus 64.4 ± 5.2 %, P < 0.05). Myocardial phosphocreatine‐to‐ATP ratio was lower in TAC mice when compared to healthy controls (0.8±0.2 versus 1.2±0.2, P < 0.05).ConclusionDecreased EF in TAC mice is accompanied by decreased phosphocreatine‐to‐ATP ratio, indicating a disturbed energy homeostasis in this mouse model of heart failure. This research was funded by a VIDI grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).

31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure in vivo cardiac energetics in normal myocardium and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Experiences at 3 T

Background 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allows measurement of in vivo high-energy phosphate kinetics in the myocardium. While traditionally 31P cardiac spectroscopy is performed at 1.5 T, cardiac MRS at higher field strength can theoretically increase signal to noise ratio (SNR) and spectral resolution therefore improving sensitivity and specificity of the cardiac spectra. The reproducibility and feasibility of performing cardiac spectroscopy at 3 T is presented here in this study in healthy volunteers and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Methods Cardiac spectroscopy was performed using a Phillips 3T Achieva scanner in 37 healthy volunteers and 26 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) to test the feasibility of the protocol. To test the reproducibility a single volunteer was scanned eight times on separate occasions. A single voxel 31P MRS was performed using Image Selected In vivo Spectroscopy (ISIS) volume localization. Results The mean phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate (PCr/ATP) ratio of the eight measurements performed on one individual was 2.11 ± 0.25. Bland Altman plots showed a variance of 12% in the measurement of PCr/ATP ratios. The PCr/ATP ratio was significantly reduced in HCM patients compared to controls, 1.42 ± 0.51 and 2.11 ± 0.57, respectively, P < 0.0001. (All results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation). Conclusions Here we demonstrate that cardiac 31P MRS at 3 T is a reliable method of measuring in vivo high-energy phosphate kinetics in the myocardium for clinical studies and diagnostics. Based on our data an impairment of cardiac energetic state in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is indisputable.

Cardiovascular nuclear magnetic resonance: basic and clinical applications.

Conflict of interest: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists. Nonstandard abbreviations used: magnetic resonance (MR); echo-planar imaging (EPI); cardiovascular MR (CMR); volume of interest (VOI); chemical shift imaging (CSI); image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS); spatial response function (SRF); radiofrequency (RF); gadolinium-diethyleneaminepentaacetate (Gd-DTPA); phosphocreatine (PCr); inorganic phosphate (Pi); tricarboxylic acid (TCA); spin-lattice relaxation time (T1); spin-spin relaxation time (T2); change in spin-spin relaxation time due to magnetic field inhomogeniety (T2*).

Detection of [1,6-13C2]-glucose metabolism in rat brain by in vivo 1H-[13C]-NMR spectroscopy.

Localized, water-suppressed (1)H-[(13)C]-NMR spectroscopy was used to detect (13)C-label accumulation in cerebral metabolites following the intravenous infusion of [1,6-(13)C(2)]-glucose (Glc). The (1)H-[(13)C]-NMR method, based on adiabatic RF pulses, 3D image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) localization, and optimal shimming, yielded high-quality (1)H-[(13)C]-NMR spectra with optimal NMR sensitivity. As a result, the (13)C labeling of [4-(13)C]-glutamate (Glu) and [4-(13)C]-glutamine (Gln) could be detected from relatively small volumes (100 microL) with a high temporal resolution. The formation of [n-(13)C]-Glu, [n-(13)C]-Gln (n = 2 or 3), [2-(13)C]-aspartate (Asp), [3-(13)C]-Asp, [3-(13)C]-alanine (Ala), and [3-(13)C]-lactate (Lac) was also observed to be reproducible. The (13)C-label incorporation curves of [4-(13)C]-Glu and [4-(13)C]-Gln provided direct information on metabolic pathways. Using a two-compartment metabolic model, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle flux was determined as 0.52 +/- 0.04 micromol/min/g, while the glutamatergic neurotransmitter flux equaled 0.25 +/- 0.05 micromol/min/g, in good correspondence with previously determined values.

31P-MR spectroscopy in children and adolescents with a familial risk of schizophrenia.

Based on a previous report [9] on alterations of membrane phosphorus metabolism in asymptomatic family members of schizophrenic patients, the aim of the present study was to extend and improve the evaluation and data processing of (31)P spectroscopic data obtained from a larger study population by including an analysis of the broad spectral component (BC) of membrane phospholipids (PL). Eighteen children and siblings of patients with schizophrenia and a gender- and age-matched control group of 18 healthy subjects without familial schizophrenia were investigated with phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS) by using image selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) in the dorsolateral prefrontal regions (DLPFR) of the brain. Spectral analysis was performed by using both the full and truncated FID to estimate metabolic peak ratios of different (31)P metabolites and the intensity and linewidth of the broad component. A significantly higher PDE level (p<0.01) and increased linewidth of the PDE components were observed for the high-risk group compared with the control group (p=0.02). No significant differences were observed for PME as well as for other (31)P-metabolites. No differences were observed between the left and right hemispheres for different normalised (31)P-metabolic levels. Decreased intensities (p=0.03) and smaller linewidths (p=0.01) were obtained for the broad component in the high-risk group. Impairments of membrane metabolism that are typical for schizophrenic patients are partially observed in adolescent asymptomatic family members of schizophrenics, including increased levels of low molecular PDE compounds indicating increased membrane degradation processes, no changes for PME, and decreased intensities and linewidths of the BC indicating changes in the composition and fluidity of membrane phospholipids. Despite limitations to completely suppress fast-relaxing components by dismissing initial FID data points, the spectroscopic results indicate additional changes in the membrane metabolism of high-risk subjects beyond changes of synthesis and degradation.

The magnitude of signal errors introduced by ISIS in quantitative 31P MRS.

It is well known that the quality of a quantitative 31P MRS measurement relies largely on the performance of the volume selection method, and that image selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) suffers from contaminating signal caused mostly by T1 smearing. However, these signal errors and their magnitude are seldom addressed in clinical studies. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the magnitude of signal errors in 31P MRS when using ISIS. The results from the measurements with a homogeneous head phantom are as follows: at low TR/T1 ratios the contamination increases rapidly, especially for small (<27 cm3) VOI sizes; at TR/T1=1, the signal from a 27 cm3 VOI was 20% too high, and from an 8 cm3 VOI 150% too high. The signal obtained from different VOI positions varied between 80 and 127%. The signal varied linearly with the 31P concentration in the object. However, a too high signal was obtained when the concentration was lower in the region of interest (inner container) than in the rest of the phantom. The agreement between the simulations and measurements shows that the results of this study are generally applicable to the measurement geometry and the ISIS experiment order rather than being specific for the MR system studied. The errors obtained both experimentally and in computer simulations are too large to be ignored in clinical studies using the ISIS pulse sequence.

In Vivo Metabolic Imaging of Cardiac Bioenergetics in Transgenic Mice

Recent advances in transgenic technology have made the mouse a particularly interesting small animal in cardiovascular research. Increasingly sophisticated experimental methods and tools are needed for detailed characterization of cardiovascular physiology and biochemistry in the mice. The objective of this study was to develop a method for noninvasive evaluation of cardiac energy metabolism in the mouse. Cardiac gated 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy using Image Selected in Vivo Spectroscopy (ISIS) method was applied in old mice overexpressing bovine growth hormone (bGH) (n = 5) and control mice (n = 5). The localized volumes of interest were 128 and 112 μL, respectively. Phosphocreatine-to-ATP ratio was 1.5 ± 0.13 in the bGH mice and 2.1 ± 0.04 in the control group (P < 0.01). The study demonstrates the feasibility of application of volume-selective 31P MRS for evaluation of cardiac energy metabolism in the mouse under maintained physiological conditions.

Extended ISIS sequences insensitive to T(1) smearing.

Image selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) is a volume selection method often used for in vivo (31)P MRS, since it is suitable for measurements of substances with short T(2). However, ISIS can suffer from significant signal contributions caused by T(1) smearing from regions outside the VOI. A computer model was developed to simulate this contamination. The simulation results for the ISIS experiment order implemented in our MR system (ISIS-0) were in agreement with results obtained from phantom measurements. A new extended ISIS experiment order (E-ISIS) was developed, consisting of four "optimal" ISIS experiment orders (ISIS-1 to ISIS-4) performed consecutively with dummy ISIS experiments in between. The simulation results show that contamination due to T(1) smearing is, effectively, eliminated with E-ISIS and is significantly lower than for ISIS-0 and ISIS-1. E-ISIS offers increased accuracy for quantitative and qualitative determination of substances studied using in vivo MRS. Hence, E-ISIS can be valuable for both clinical and research applications.

Frontal lobe in vivo (31)P-MRS reveals gender differences in healthy controls, not in schizophrenics.

Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS) has gained much interest in schizophrenia research in recent years since it allows the non-invasive measurement of high-energy phosphates and phospholipids in vivo. However, until now only differences in metabolite concentrations between certain brain areas of schizophrenic patients and healthy controls have been examined. We investigated the influence of gender on the concentrations of different phosphorus compounds. For this purpose, well-defined volumes in the frontal lobe of 32 healthy controls and 51 schizophrenic in-patients were examined with an image selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) sequence on a whole-body scanner at 1.5 T. Healthy females exhibited increased values of inorganic phosphate (P(i)) and decreased values of phosphocreatine (PCr) in comparison to their male counterparts. In schizophrenic patients such gender differences were not present. Thus, the results can be interpreted in the sense that frontal energy demanding processes are enhanced in female compared to male healthy volunteers; schizophrenia seems to reduce these gender differences.

In Vivo Detection of 15N-Coupled Protons in Rat Brain by ISIS Localization and Multiple-Quantum Editing

Three-dimensional image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) was combined with phase-cycled 1H–15N heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) transfer NMR for localized selective observation of protons J-coupled to 15N in phantoms and in vivo. The ISIS–HMQC sequence, supplemented by jump–return water suppression, permitted localized selective observation of 2–5 μmol of [15Nindole]tryptophan, a precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin, through the 15N-coupled proton in 20–40 min of acquisition in vitro at 4.7 T. In vivo, the amide proton of [5-15N]glutamine was selectively observed in the brain of spontaneously breathing 15NH4+-infused rats, using a volume probe with homogeneous 1H and 15N fields. Signal recovery after three-dimensional localization was 72–82% in phantoms and 59 ± 4% in vivo. The result demonstrates that localized selective observation of 15N-coupled protons, with complete cancellation of all other protons except water, can be achieved in spontaneously breathing animals by the ISIS–HMQC sequence. This sequence performs both volume selection and heteronuclear editing through an addition/subtraction scheme and predicts the highest intrinsic sensitivity for detection of 15N-coupled protons in the selected volume. The advantages and limitations of this method for in vivo application are compared to those of other localized editing techniques currently in use for non-exchanging protons.

A two-compartment phantom for VOI profile measurements in small-bore 31P MR spectroscopy

A two-compartment gel phantom for VOI profile measurements in volume-selective spectroscopy in small-bore units is presented. The phantom is cylindrical with two compartments divided by a very thin polyethene film. This thin film permits measurements with a minimum of susceptibility influences from the partition wall. The phantom was used for evaluation of the volume selection method ISIS (image-selected in vivo spectroscopy). The position of the phantom was fixed in the magnet during the measurements, while the volume of interest (VOI) was moved stepwise over the border. The signal from the two compartments was measured for each position and the data were evaluated following differentiation. We have found this phantom suitable for VOI profile measurements of ISIS in small-bore systems. The phantom forms a useful complement to recommended phantoms for small bore-spectroscopy.

Evaluation of the effects of high dose irradiation on canine thigh muscle by follow-up magnetic resonance imaging and phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The authors investigate alterations of proton T1 and T2 relaxation times and phosphorus metabolites of canine thigh muscle tissue after high dose x-ray irradiation by follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and phosphorus-31 (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). A group of 20 dogs was used for MRI and in vivo 31P MRS. Single doses of 5,000 and 10,000 cGy were delivered to the right thigh muscle of groups of 10 dogs each. All MRI and 31P MRS examinations were performed before irradiation and 1, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 days after irradiation. For measurement of T1, repetition time (TR) was measured at 300, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 msec and echo time (TE) was fixed at 12 msec. Also, for measurement of T2, TE was measured at 20, 40, 60, and 80 msec and TR was fixed at 2000 msec. Image selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) pulse sequence was used to obtain 31P MR spectra. Peak areas for each phosphorus metabolite were measured using a Marquart algorithm. Magnetic resonance imaging signal began to change at 28 days after a single dose of 10,000 cGy, whereas there was no significant MRI signal change until 56 days after a single dose of 5,000 cGy. Also, extensive MRI signal changes were observed at 42 days after a single dose of 10,000 cGy. Significant correlation was established between T2 and a lapse of time although there was no correlation between T1 and a lapse of time. T2 value increased substantially corresponding to the time period after x-ray irradiation. Although MR spectral change was not observed until 42 days after a single dose of 5,000 cGy, it began at 14 days after a single dose of 10,000 cGy. And, significant MR spectral changes were observed at 28 and 42 days. Inorganic phosphate and phosphodiesters signal intensities increased while phosphocreatine signal intensity decreased. The pH value was 7.22 +/- 0.05 at control, and 6.98 +/- 0.04 at 42 days after a single dose of 10,000 cGy. The postirradiation follow-up MRI and 31P MRS studies demonstrated that morphologic and metabolic changes were dependent upon the x-ray dose and a lapse of time.