Cornelius von Morze1, Peder E. Larson1,
Simon Hu1, Kayvan Keshari1, David M. Wilson1,
Jan Henrik Ardenkjaer-Larsen2, John Kurhanewicz1,
Daniel B. Vigneron1
1Department of Radiology and Biomedical
Imaging, UCSF,
We
demonstrate regional imaging of blood flow in preclinical murine models with
hyperpolarized (DNP) 13C-urea. A bSSFP pulse sequence was
developed, with progressively increasing flip angles for efficient sampling
of the hyperpolarized magnetization. This allowed temporal and volumetric
imaging at a spatial resolution of 2.5mm x 2.5mm x 8mm with a time resolution
of 6 s. Regional signal dynamics were quantified, and estimates of relative
blood flow to the kidneys and the liver were made. Differences were observed
in blood flow patterns to normal and cancerous hepatic tissues. The blood flow
maps were compared to results of metabolic maps of 1-13C-pyruvate.
Keywords