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Abstract #2988

Rapid CEST Detection Using EPI

Nevin McVicar1, Alex X. Li2, Robert Hudson3, Martyn Klassen2, Robert Bartha1,2

1Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; 2Centre of Functional and Metabolic Imaging, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; 3Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada


An Echo-planar imaging (EPI) pulse sequence was developed to detect CEST paramagnetic contrast. The EPI PARACEST sequence included a 2.5s CEST saturation pulse, followed by a ~ 26ms echo-train. Signal to noise ratio (SNR), CEST effect, and CEST efficiency for EPI CEST sequence were compared to fast spin-echo (FSE) CEST and fast low angle shot (FLASH) CEST in a phantom containing 10 mM Eu3+-DOTAM-Gly-Phe. EPI CEST, provided high temporal resolution and SNR while fully maintaining CEST effect due to the short readout times. Decreasing readout bandwidth had no significant impact on acquisition time or CEST contrast but increased image SNR.