Whole brain 31P MRSI at 7T with a dual‐tuned receive array. Issue 2 (23rd August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rowland, Benjamin C.; Driver, Ian D.; Tachrount, Mohamed; Klomp, Dennis W. J.; Rivera, Debra; Forner, Ria; Pham, Anh; Italiaander, Michel; Wise, Richard G.
• Is Part Of: Magnetic resonance in medicine. Volume 83:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 765
• Page End: 775
• Publication Date: 2019-08-23
• Subjects: dual‐tuned -- MRSI -- 31P -- phosphorus -- receive array -- spectroscopy; Nuclear magnetic resonance -- Periodicals; Electron paramagnetic resonance -- Periodicals; 616.07548
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27953
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0740-3194

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The design and performance of a novel head coil setup for 31 P spectroscopy at ultra‐high field strengths (7T) is presented. The described system supports measurements at both the 1 H and 31 P resonance frequencies. Methods: The novel coil consists of 2, actively detunable, coaxial birdcage coils to give homogeneous transmit, combined with a double resonant 30 channel receive array. This allows for anatomical imaging combined with 31 P acquisitions over the whole head, without changing coils or disturbing the subject. A phosphate buffer phantom and 3 healthy volunteers were scanned with a pulse acquire CSI sequence using both the novel array coil and a conventional transceiver birdcage. Four different methods of combining the array channels were compared at 3 different levels of SNR. Results: The novel coil setup delivers significantly increased 31 P SNR in the peripheral regions of the brain, reaching up to factor 8, while maintaining comparable performance relative to the birdcage in the center. Conclusions: The new system offers the potential to acquire whole brain 31 P MRSI with superior signal relative to the standard options.