Chemical imaging of the brain by NMR.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T H Foster.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
NMR images of preselected chemically shifted species can be obtained by selective irradiation of the remainder of the NMR chemical shift spectrum prior to application of a conventional NMR imaging sequence. The chemical-selective irradiation consists of narrow-bandwidth pi/2 or saturation radio-frequency pulses applied in the absence of imaging gradients. The technique permits substantial reductions in scan and reconstruction times over standard three- and four-dimensional Fourier transform chemical-shift-imaging methods, when images of few spectral peaks are desired. It is also suitable for the elimination of chemical shift artifacts in conventional high-field NMR imaging. In vivo applications of the technique to the head and limbs in a 1.5-T magnetic field yield 1H H2O and -CH2-images, with little detectable -CH2- in muscle and brain.
The longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) hydrogen (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation times of normal human and animal tissue in the frequency range 1-100 MHz are compiled and reviewed as a function of tissue type, NMR frequency, temperature, species, in vivo versus in vitro status, time after excision, and age. The dominant observed factors affecting T1 are tissue type and NMR frequency (V). All tissue frequency dispersions can be fitted to the simple expression T1 = AVB in the range 1-100 MHz, with A and B tissue-dependent constants. This equation provides as good or better fit to the data as previous more complex formulas. T2 is found to be multicomponent, essentially independent of NMR frequency, and dependent mainly on tissue type. Mean and raw values of T1 and T2 for each tissue are tabulated and/or plotted versus frequency and the fitting parameters A, B and the standard deviations determined to establish the normal range of relaxation times applicable to NMR imaging. The mechanisms for tissue NMR relaxation are reviewed with reference to the fast exchange two state (FETS) model of water in biological systems, and an overview of the dynamic state of water and macromolecular hydrogen compatible with the frequency, temperature, and multicomponent data is postulated. This suggests that 1H tissue T1 is determined predominantly by intermolecular (possibly rotational) interactions between macromolecules and a single bound hydration layer, and the T2 is governed mainly by exchange diffusion of water between the bound layer and a free water phase. Deficiencies in measurement techniques are identified as major sources of data irreproducibility.
The value of a reduced bandwidth MR imaging technique was tested prospectively in 51 spinal MR examinations by using default (16 kHz) bandwidth, 2000/30, 90 (TR/TEs) and 600/30, and reduced (8 kHz) bandwidth, 2000/48, 92 and 600/30, techniques at 1.5 T. Bandwidth reduction was used to maintain the signal-to-noise ratio for a reduced scan time. Concerns have been raised as to the effect of bandwidth reduction at high field, since a savings in time or an increased signal-to-noise ratio occur at the expense of increased chemical shift misregistration artifact. However, when appreciable, the chemical shift-related artifact in the spine was typically located in the frequency-encoding direction at the vertebral body/disk space interface or the dural sac/epidural fat interface in the lower lumbosacral region and was easily distinguished from pathologic lesions. There were no missed diagnoses with the reduced bandwidth technique. This study suggests that chemical shift-related artifact will rarely be confused with pathology by an experienced reader and suggests a clinical role for the bandwidth technique to decrease scanning time in uncooperative patients or to allow acquisition of additional imaging planes in a reasonable time.
The need for repositioning of surface coils and patients in MR examinations of the cervical and thoracic spine prolongs examination time. A new receiver design is proposed which overcomes this problem. The device is composed of two actively decoupled receiver coils mounted on the frame of a Philadelphia collar. These coils may be used separately to image either the thoracic or cervical spine or together to produce larger field-of-view images of the combined region. Signal-to-noise ratios of the separate cervical and thoracic spine images are not degraded as a result of mounting the receivers together. The full cervical and thoracic region is shown to be imaged at a signal-to-noise ratio significantly higher than that afforded by the body coil. A retrospective review of our case load suggests that a time saving could be achieved in approximately 1/3 of spine examinations by using this coil.
Magnetic resonance imaging using limited-flip-angle, gradient refocused pulse sequences has been used to monitor the course of anticoagulant or fibrinolytic therapy for deep vein thrombosis in two patients. The findings demonstrate the capacity of this technique to delineate the extent of thrombosis and characterize changes in size in response to treatment. Advantages of this approach include high anatomic resolution, speed of examination and non-invasiveness, properties that make it well-suited to following the progress of therapy with potentially significant implications for improving treatment.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.