Ryutaro Nakagami1,2, Masayuki Yamaguchi1,
Akira Hirayama1,3, Akira Nabetani3, Atsushi Nozaki3,
Takumi Higaki4,5, Natsumaro Kutsuna4,5, Seiichiro
Hasezawa4,5, Hirofumi Fujii1,5, Mamoru Niitsu6
1Functional Imaging Division, National
Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan; 2Graduate
School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa,
Tokyo, Japan; 3GE Healthcare Japan, Ltd., Hino, Tokyo, Japan; 4Graduate
School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan; 5Institute
for Bioinformatics Research and Development, Japan Science and Technology
Agency, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan; 6Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo
Metropolitan University, Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan
There
has been growing interest in MR imaging studies of small animal models of
human diseases as small animal MRI systems using a combination of 3.0 Tesla
whole-body scanners and highly sensitive solenoid coils, which provides high
spatial resolution and high sensitivity, as they are preferable for
translational research. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of
these MRI systems for quantitative MRI research by showing B1+ homogeneity in
the mouse brain. In vivo B1+ maps were obtained by a rapid B1+ field mapping
technique using a SPGR sequence and a brand-new calculation method for
determining the 180 null signal.
Keywords