A Peak Phasing & Alignment Algorithm for Automated Post-Processing of 3D MRSI Data from the Prostate of Cancer Patients.

Alan James Wright¹, Arend Heerschap¹

Currently, prostate 3D MRSI acquisition methods have matured considerably, but automatic spectral processing remains a bottleneck to realise routine clinical application as processing is often hampered by variations in phase and chemical shift of metabolite peaks across the MRSI data set. Furthermore, the citrate resonance at 2.6ppm is sensitive to the salt concentration and pH of the local environment and can vary quite dramatically within one 3D MRSI slice. We have developed a phase and frequency alignment algorithm, specific to the unique problem of prostate cancer MRSI data sets, and tested it with simulated and patient data.