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Abstract #4228

Uniform-MT CEST to Isolate GagCEST Contrast from Asymmetric MT Effects: First in vivo Study on Human Knees at 7 T

Jae-Seung Lee1, 2, Prodromos Parasoglou1, Ding Xia1, Alexej Jerschow2, Ravinder R. Regatte1

1Radiology, New York University, New York, NY, United States; 2Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States


The in-vivo quantification of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration is important for the early diagnosis of osteoarthritis. One promising method to measure GAG content in articular cartilage is chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST). However, the CEST measurement may be interfered with the magnetization transfer (MT) effects resulting from the background extracelluar matrix. Recently, we have proposed a new strategy to disentangle CEST effects from asymmetric MT effects by using a simultaneous two-frequency RF irradiation technique to make the MT effects uniform. For the first time, this uniform-MT CEST method is applied in an in vivo human knee MRI study.