Multi-voxel PRESS for fast and sensitive static MRS of hyperpolarized nuclei

Abstract

A multi-voxel point resolved spectroscopy (MV-PRESS) sequence was developed for measuring hyperpolarized 13C-labelled compounds, on a 7T preclinical small animal scanner. MV-PRESS allows to excite selected imaging voxels within a 3D volume with high sensitivity (i.e. 90° excitation angle). This method was compared to both single-voxel PRESS of a thermal 1H phantom and CSI with a hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate phantom. MV-PRESS was then used to detect both pyruvate and lactate in healthy mouse kidneys after hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate injection, using 2x2x2 mm3 voxels for a total of 4 voxels.