In-Vivo 19F Imaging of 5-Fluorouracil & its Metabolites in Rat by Two-Element Phased-Array Coil

Yosuke Otake¹, Koji Hirata¹, Yoshihisa Soutome¹, Yoshitaka Bito¹

A ¹⁹F two-element phased-array coil with a transmit ¹⁹F/¹H dual-tuned linear-birdcage coil for rats was developed. In-vivo ¹⁹F imaging of the anticancer drug 5-Fluorouracil and its metabolites in tumor-bearing rats was demonstrated by using the developed coils. Time courses of 5-FU and its active-metabolite (Fnuc) distribution images were obtained in the region of the tumor by using fast spin echo with frequency-selective pulses. This study indicates that the developed ¹⁹F two-element phased-array coil will make small-animal studies possible in drug research.