Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) enables the distribution of a number of MR-observable tissue metabolites to be mapped, offering considerable clinical potential as a diagnostic imaging technique. However, for brain studies, the spatial extent of the available information has been limited by acquisition time constrains, and the necessity to avoid signal contamination from subcutaneous lipid regions. The goal of this project is the measurement of 3D brain metabolite distributions over a large volume that includes cortical surface regions, and with high spatial resolution. This will be achieved by the development of a 1H MRSI method that uses rapid acquisition combined with a dual-density k-space sampling distribution, that simultaneously provides high-sensitivity for metabolite distributions and high spatial resolution for subcutaneous lipid regions. Post-processing methods will be used to further diminish ringing and contamination from subcutaneous lipid signals, and motion artifacts. High-resolution mapping for metabolites will be obtained using a multiple session protocol that accounts for variable subject position. This work will greatly extend the clinical applications of MRSI by providing volumetric metabolite distributions over a wide region of the brain, with high sensitivity. As techniques are developed, they will support ongoing clinical studies investigating changes of brain metabolites associated with Alzheimer's disease and aging, epilepsy, substance abuse, and schizophrenia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS038029-02
Application #
6151617
Study Section
Diagnostic Imaging Study Section (DMG)
Program Officer
Heetderks, William J
Project Start
1999-04-15
Project End
2002-01-31
Budget Start
2000-02-01
Budget End
2001-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$184,168
Indirect Cost
Name
Northern California Institute Research & Education
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94121
Ebel, Andreas; Maudsley, Andrew A; Schuff, Norbert (2007) Correction of local B0 shifts in 3D EPSI of the human brain at 4 T. Magn Reson Imaging 25:377-80
Govindaraju, Varanavasi; Gauger, Grant E; Manley, Geoffrey T et al. (2004) Volumetric proton spectroscopic imaging of mild traumatic brain injury. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 25:730-7
Ebel, Andreas; Govindaraju, Varanavasi; Maudsley, Andrew A (2003) Comparison of inversion recovery preparation schemes for lipid suppression in 1H MRSI of human brain. Magn Reson Med 49:903-8
Ebel, Andreas; Maudsley, Andrew A (2003) Improved spectral quality for 3D MR spectroscopic imaging using a high spatial resolution acquisition strategy. Magn Reson Imaging 21:113-20
Ebel, A; Maudsley, A A (2001) Comparison of methods for reduction of lipid contamination for in vivo proton MR spectroscopic imaging of the brain. Magn Reson Med 46:706-12
Ebel, A; Soher, B J; Maudsley, A A (2001) Assessment of 3D proton MR echo-planar spectroscopic imaging using automated spectral analysis. Magn Reson Med 46:1072-8