High Resolution 3D 31P Spectroscopic Imaging of the Human Prostate at 7T: Technical Feasibility & In Vivo Measurement

Thiele Kobus¹, Andreas K. Bitz², Mark J. Van Uden¹, Miriam W. Lagemaat¹, Stephan Orzada², Arend Heerschap¹, Tom W. J. Scheenen^1,2

A thorough safety validation was performed to enable combined use of a ³¹P TxRx endorectal coil with a 8-channel ¹H TxRx array coil. The maximum RF power with the ³¹P coil was determined. The coupling between the coils while transmitting with the 8-channel ¹H coil was studied by B1⁺ and temperature mapping. Although an increased proton flip angle was observed near the endorectal coil wire, no local temperature increase was observed. The in vivo measurement using adiabatic excitation showed good quality of both prostate imaging and ³¹P spectra, demonstrating the potential of ³¹P MRSI of the prostate at high field.