Fast imaging of phosphocreatine in the normal human myocardium using a three-dimensional RARE pulse sequence at 4 Tesla.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of a three-dimensional rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) pulse sequence for direct acquisition of phosphocreatine (PCr) images of the human myocardium.


METHODS
A short elliptical birdcage radiofrequency (RF) body coil was constructed to produce a uniform flip angle throughout the chest cavity. In vivo images using a spectrally-selective RARE sequence with a spatial resolution of 1.2 cm x 1.2 cm x 2.5 cm (4 cm(3)) were acquired in nine minutes and 40 seconds.


RESULTS
Scans of phantoms demonstrated excellent spectral selectivity. The signal-to-noise ratio in the myocardium ranged from 12.6 in the anterior wall to 5.3 in the mid septum.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that PCr data can be acquired using a three-dimensional RARE sequence with greater spatial and temporal resolution than spectroscopic techniques.
Greenman
Robert L
RL
Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. rgreenma@caregroup.harvard.edu
Axel
Leon
L
Ferrari
Victor A
VA
Lenkinski
Robert E
RE
D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*
D010725:Phosphocreatine; C025403:phosphocreatinine