Elena Vinogradov1, Aaron K. Grant1, Phillip M. Robson1, Ilena Hancu2, W Thomas Dixon2, A Dean Sherry3,4, Robert E. Lenkinski1
1Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 2GE Global Research, Niskayuna, NY, USA; 3Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX; 4Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) contrast employs selective presaturation of the exchanging pool and subsequent observation of the reduction of the free water signal. Many potential applications of CEST agents, in particular Paramagentic CEST agents (PARACEST) are limited by the RF power required, that may exceed FDA approved SAR limits. Combination of Parallel Imaging (PI) with CEST should allow increased TR, and, hence, reduced SAR, without sacrificing image resolution or total scan time. Preliminary data shown here demonstrate combination of CEST with PI, and shows that the PI reconstruction does not alter the observable CEST effects.