A multislice gradient echo pulse sequence for CEST imaging

W. Thomas Dixon, Ileana Hancu, S. James Ratnakar, A. Dean Sherry, Robert E. Lenkinski, David C. Alsop

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer and paramagnetic chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer are agent-mediated contrast mechanisms that depend on saturating spins at the resonant frequency of the exchangeable protons on the agent, thereby indirectly saturating the bulk water. In general, longer saturating pulses produce stronger chemical and paramagnetic exchange-dependent saturation transfer effects, with returns diminishing for pulses longer than T1. This could make imaging slow, so one approach to chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer imaging has been to follow a long, frequency-selective saturation period by a fast imaging method. A new approach is to insert a short frequency-selective saturation pulse before each spatially selective observation pulse in a standard, two-dimensional, gradient-echo pulse sequence. Being much less than T1 apart, the saturation pulses have a cumulative effect. Interleaved, multislice imaging is straightforward. Observation pulses directed at one slice did not produce observable, unintended chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer effects in another slice. Pulse repetition time and signal-to noise ratio increase in the normal way as more slices are imaged simultaneously.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)253-256
Number of pages4
JournalMagnetic resonance in medicine
Volume63
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010

Keywords

  • CEST
  • Multislice imaging
  • PARACEST
  • Quantitative imaging
  • Saturation transfer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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