Improved sensitivity of proton MR to oxygen-17 as a contrast agent using fast imaging: detection in brain.
The potential utility of H2(17)O as a contrast agent has been demonstrated in biological solutions and isolated tissues but its use has been impaired by the need to run heavily T2-weighted spin-echo images. By choosing an appropriate steady-state free precession experiment sensitive to T1/T2, we have improved the available contrast-to-noise per unit time by more than a factor of 5. This allows easy measurement of the proton effects for concentrations as low as 0.4% H2(17)O in less than 1 min. Injection into small animals produces a marked reduction in the overall image intensity. Consecutive imaging at the rate of one every 52 s has been used to follow the rate of change in brain image intensity immediately after injection.
Hopkins
A L
AL
Department of Developmental Genetics and Anatomy, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Haacke
E M
EM
Tkach
J
J
Barr
R G
RG
Bratton
C B
CB
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D051381:Rats; D014867:Water
D003287:Contrast Media; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D014867:Water