Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MR technique for in-vivo liver imaging at 3.0 tesla.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI for liver imaging at 3.0-T.


METHODS
Images were acquired at offsets (n = 41, increment = 0.25 ppm) from -5 to 5 ppm using a TSE sequence with a continuous rectangular saturation pulse. Amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) and GlycoCEST signals were quantified as the asymmetric magnetization transfer ratio (MTRasym) at 3.5 ppm and the total MTRasym integrated from 0.5 to 1.5 ppm, respectively, from the corrected Z-spectrum. Reproducibility was assessed for rats and humans. Eight rats were devoid of chow for 24 hours and scanned before and after fasting. Eleven rats were scanned before and after one-time CCl4 intoxication.


RESULTS
For reproducibility, rat liver APTw and GlycoCEST measurements had 95 % limits of agreement of -1.49 % to 1.28 % and -0.317 % to 0.345 %. Human liver APTw and GlycoCEST measurements had 95 % limits of agreement of -0.842 % to 0.899 % and -0.344 % to 0.164 %. After 24 hours, fasting rat liver APTw and GlycoCEST signals decreased from 2.38 ± 0.86 % to 0.67 ± 1.12 % and from 0.34 ± 0.26 % to -0.18 ± 0.37 % respectively (p < 0.05). After CCl4 intoxication rat liver APTw and GlycoCEST signals decreased from 2.46 ± 0.48 % to 1.10 ± 0.77 %, and from 0.34 ± 0.23 % to -0.16 ± 0.51 % respectively (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CEST liver imaging at 3.0-T showed high sensitivity for fasting as well as CCl4 intoxication.


CONCLUSIONS
• CEST MRI of in-vivo liver was demonstrated at clinical 3 T field strength. • After 24-hour fasting, rat liver APTw and GlycoCEST signals decreased significantly. • After CCl4 intoxication both rat liver APTw and GlycoCEST signals decreased significantly. • Good scan-rescan reproducibility of liver CEST MRI was shown in healthy volunteers.
Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR.
Shu-Zhong
SZ
Chen
Medical Physics and Research Department, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong, SAR.
Jing
J
Yuan
Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR.
Min
M
Deng
Philips Healthcare Asia, Shanghai, China.
Juan
J
Wei
Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.|F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Jinyuan
J
Zhou
Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR. yixiang_wang@cuhk.edu.hk.
Yì-Xiáng J
YX
Wáng
D000328:Adult; D000577:Amides; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
D000577:Amides; D011522:Protons; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride
Amide proton transfer (APT); Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST); Glycogen; Liver; Magnetic resonance imaging