Abstract #3522

Diffusion-Sensitive Single-Shot Proton-Echo-Planar-Spectroscopic-Imaging (PEPSI) in Human Brain

Stefan Posse^1,2, Akio Ernesto Yoshimoto², Ricardo Otazo³, Andre van der Kouwe^4,5, Fa-Hsuan Lin^4,5, Lawrence L. Wald^4,5

¹Neurology, U. New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; ²Electrical and Computer Engineering, U. New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; ³New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; ⁴MGH-HMS-MIT Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA; ⁵Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

Metabolite diffusion coefficients reflect intra-cellular viscosity, restriction in subcellular structures and cytoplasmic streaming. However, spatial mapping of metabolite diffusion in vivo is not feasible with conventional phase encoded MRSI techniques due to the strong motion sensitivity. We are showing proof-of-concept of single-shot MRSI with SENSE and Superresolution reconstruction in human brain using 32-channel head coil. Clinical applications, such as the study of intra-cellular changes in Multiple Sclerosis, ischemia and tumors, for diagnostic and treatment monitoring may become feasible.