Abstract #3537

Spectral-Spatial EPI Sequence with Frequency Correction for Dynamic 3D Imaging of Pre-Polarized 13C Metabolites

Charles H. Cunningham^1,2, Ralph E. Hurd³, Albert P. Chen⁴

¹Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; ²Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; ³GE Healthcare, Menlo Park, CA, United States; ⁴GE Healthcare, Toronto, ON, Canada

Motivated by the need for 3D metabolic images at multiple timepoints, a rapid spectral-spatial echo-planar imaging (ss-epi) pulse sequence tailored for clinical application was developed. The feasibility of using registration of consecutive metabolic images as a method for measuring and correcting the frequency-induced spatial shifts that occur in vivo was investigated. In experiments with rats and hyperpolarized [1-13C] pyruvate, excellent image quality and apparent agreement with the underlying anatomy was observed. The frequency correction method was shown to have an accuracy of 3 Hz.