Intramolecular Zero-Quantum-Coherence 2D NMR Spectroscopy of Lipids in Human Breast Tissue at 7 T

Robin A. de Graaf¹, Peter R. Luijten², Dennis W. J. Klomp², Vincent Oltman Boer³

Abundant water-lipid susceptibility boundaries in the human breast can cause severe magnetic field inhomogeneity, thereby preventing the quantification and characterization of lipid signals. Intramolecular zero-quantum-coherences (ZQCs) are intrinsically insensitive towards magnetic field inhomogeneity. A novel 2D ZQC method is presented for the unambiguous characterization of the human breast lipid profile. The combination of cardiac/respiratory triggering and post-acquisition navigator echo correction provides high-quality 2D NMR spectra. Despite the presence of severe magnetic field inhomogeneity, the ZQC-based lipid profile can be reliably determined even in the human breast at 7T and expressed as fractions poly and mono-unsaturated and saturated fatty acids.