title: Technical challenges in 3 T magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of the prostate-A single-institution experience.
abstract: The magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) is the only technique that is currently available in the clinical practice to provide the metabolic status of prostate tissue at the cellular level with a great potential to improve the clinical patient care. Increasing the field strength from 1.5 to 3 T can theoretically provide proportionately higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and improve spectral separation between prostatic metabolite peaks. The technique, however, has been limited to a few academic institutions that are equipped with a team of experts primarily due to due to serious technical challenges in optimizing the spectral quality. High quality shimming is key to the successful MRSI acquisition. Without optimization of the increased field inhomogeneity and radiofrequency (RF) dielectric effect at 3 T, the spectral peak broadening and residual signal from the periprostatic fat tissue may render the overall spectra non-diagnostic. The purpose of this technical note is to present the practical steps of successful acquisition of 3 T MRSI and to address several important technical challenges in minimizing the effect of the increased magnetic field and RF field inhomogeneity in order to obtain highest possible spectral quality based on our initial experience in using 3 T MRSI prototype software.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, 2 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA ; 3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand ; 4 Department of Urology, 5 Department of Pathology, 6 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Haesun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, 2 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA ; 3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand ; 4 Department of Urology, 5 Department of Pathology, 6 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, 2 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA ; 3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand ; 4 Department of Urology, 5 Department of Pathology, 6 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Piyaporn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boonsirikamchai
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, 2 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA ; 3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand ; 4 Department of Urology, 5 Department of Pathology, 6 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Surena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matin
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, 2 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA ; 3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand ; 4 Department of Urology, 5 Department of Pathology, 6 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Troncoso
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, 2 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA ; 3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand ; 4 Department of Urology, 5 Department of Pathology, 6 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Jingfei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
keywords: 3 T; Prostate cancer; magnetic field inhomogeneity; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; radiofrequency (RF) field inhomogeneity