Spatial effects in the detection of gamma-aminobutyric acid: improved sensitivity at high fields using inner volume saturation

Magn Reson Med. 2007 Dec;58(6):1276-82. doi: 10.1002/mrm.21383.

Abstract

The MEGA-PRESS-IVS method has been developed, which combines MEGA (a frequency-selective editing technique) editing with the point-resolved spectroscopy sequence (PRESS) and inner volume saturation (IVS) localization, reducing the deleterious effects of spatial variation in coupling evolution. The IVS method has been previously described for improved efficiency of lactate detection. The current study demonstrates that the combination of MEGA-PRESS with IVS results in increased sensitivity for edited single-voxel measurements of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). A four-compartment model of coupling evolution is investigated through simple product operators and full spin-system simulations and the predicted pattern of signal evolution is demonstrated through MEGA-PRESS-MRSI. MEGA-PRESS-IVS is then compared to MEGA-PRESS in a phantom and an average signal increase of 24% is demonstrated in five healthy volunteers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms*
  • Brain / anatomy & histology*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / analysis*

Substances

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid