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Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine

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Open Access 01-02-2014 | Research Article

Sodium (²³Na) ultra-short echo time imaging in the human brain using a 3D-Cones trajectory

Authors: Frank Riemer, Bhavana S. Solanky, Christian Stehning, Matthew Clemence, Claudia A. M. Wheeler-Kingshott, Xavier Golay

Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Object

Sodium magnetic resonance imaging (²³Na-MRI) of the brain has shown changes in ²³Na signal as a hallmark of various neurological diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Huntington’s disease. To improve scan times and image quality, we have implemented the 3D-Cones (CN) sequence for in vivo ²³Na brain MRI.

Materials and methods

Using signal-to-noise (SNR) as a measurement of sequence performance, CN is compared against more established 3D-radial k-space sampling schemes featuring cylindrical stack-of-stars (SOS) and 3D-spokes kooshball (KB) trajectories, on five healthy volunteers in a clinical setting. Resolution was evaluated by simulating the point-spread-functions (PSFs) and experimental measures on a phantom.

Results

All sequences were shown to have a similar SNR arbitrary units (AU) of 6–6.5 in brain white matter, 7–9 in gray matter and 17–18 AU in cerebrospinal fluid. SNR between white and gray matter were significantly different for KB and CN (p = 0.046 and <0.001 respectively), but not for SOS (p = 0.1). Group mean standard deviations were significantly smaller for CN (p = 0.016). Theoretical full-width at half-maximum linewidth of the PSF for CN is broadened by only 0.1, compared to 0.3 and 0.8 pixels for SOS and KB respectively. Actual image resolution is estimated as 8, 9 and 6.3 mm for SOS, KB and CN respectively.

Conclusion

The CN sequence provides stronger tissue contrast than both SOS and KB, with more reproducible SNR measurements compared to KB. For CN, a higher true resolution in the same amount of time with no significant trade-off in SNR is achieved. CN is therefore more suitable for ²³Na-MRI in the brain.

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Title: Sodium (23Na) ultra-short echo time imaging in the human brain using a 3D-Cones trajectory
Authors: Frank Riemer
Bhavana S. Solanky
Christian Stehning
Matthew Clemence
Claudia A. M. Wheeler-Kingshott
Xavier Golay
Publication date: 01-02-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 0968-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1352-8661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-013-0395-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Sodium (²³Na) ultra-short echo time imaging in the human brain using a 3D-Cones trajectory

Abstract

Object

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Object

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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