23Na MRI of human skeletal muscle using long inversion recovery pulses

Wilferth T, Gast L, Stobbe RW, Beaulieu C, Hensel B, Uder M, Nagel AM (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Elsevier

Book Volume: 63

Pages Range: 280-290

DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2019.08.012

Abstract

23Na inversion recovery (IR) imaging allows for a weighting toward intracellular sodium in the human calf muscle and thus enables an improved analysis of pathophysiological changes of the muscular ion homeostasis. However, sodium signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is low, especially when using IR sequences. 23Na has a nuclear spin of 3/2 and therefore experiences a strong electrical quadrupolar interaction. This results in very short relaxation times as well as in possible residual quadrupolar splitting. Consequently, relaxation effects during a radiofrequency pulse can no longer be neglected and even allow for increasing SNR as has previously been shown for human brain and knee. The aim of this work was to increase the SNR in 23Na IR imaging of the human calf muscle by using long inversion pulses instead of the usually applied short pulses. First, the influence of the inversion pulse length (1 to 20 ms) on the SNR as well as on image contrast was simulated for different model environments and verified by phantom measurements. Depending on the model environment (agarose 4% and 8%, xanthan 2% and 3%), SNR values increased by a factor of 1.15 up to 1.35, while NaCl solution was successfully suppressed. Thus, image contrast between the non-suppressed model compartments changes with IR pulse length. Finally, in vivo measurements of the human calf muscle of ten healthy volunteers were conducted at 3 Tesla. On average, a 1.4-fold increase in SNR could be achieved by increasing the inversion pulse length from 1 ms to 20 ms, leaving all other parameters – including the scan time – constant. This enables 23Na IR MRI with improved spatial resolution or reduced acquisition time.

Authors with CRIS profile

Tobias Wilferth Institute of Radiology Lena Gast Institute of Radiology Bernhard Hensel Max Schaldach-Stiftungsprofessur für Biomedizinische Technik Michael Uder Lehrstuhl für Diagnostische Radiologie Armin Michael Nagel Professur für metabolische und funktionelle MR-Bildgebung

Involved external institutions

University of Alberta CA Canada (CA)

How to cite

APA:

Wilferth, T., Gast, L., Stobbe, R.W., Beaulieu, C., Hensel, B., Uder, M., & Nagel, A.M. (2019). 23Na MRI of human skeletal muscle using long inversion recovery pulses. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 63, 280-290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mri.2019.08.012

MLA:

Wilferth, Tobias, et al. "23Na MRI of human skeletal muscle using long inversion recovery pulses." Magnetic Resonance Imaging 63 (2019): 280-290.

BibTeX: Download