In vivo intermolecular double-quantum imaging on a clinical 1.5 T MR scanner.
A novel MRI method based on the intermolecular double-quantum coherence (DQC) for soft tissues is described. DQC images of human brain were obtained for the first time on a whole-body 1.5 T scanner. The combination of quantum and classical formalisms was used to characterize multiple-quantum coherences, and to aid in the design of a DQC imaging sequence. The theoretical analysis suggests that signals from the intermolecular DQCs have higher sensitivity than those from the zero-quantum coherence (ZQC) for human brain, and the sensitivity increases with increased field strength. The DQC signal may provide a new form of contrast for MRI.
Zhong
J
J
Department of Radiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York 14642-8648, USA. jianhui_zhong@urmc.rochester.edu
Chen
Z
Z
Kwok
E
E
D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008433:Mathematics; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity