Spectroscopic Imaging of Cerebral Metabolism using Hyperpolarized [1-13C]Pyruvate & Multi-Echo Single-Shot RARE Sequence

Peter Otto Magnusson¹, Sadia Asghar Butt¹, Mette Hauge Lauritzen¹, Jan Henrik Ardenkjr-Larsen², Per kesson¹, Lise Vejby Sgaard¹

Efficient and rapid utilization of available magnetization is of greatest importance in hyperpolarized 13C MR since the in vivo decay time constant of the hyperpolarized signal is less than one minute. Here we demonstrate the potential of a multi-echo single-shot RARE sequence (FSEME) for rapid spectroscopic imaging of cerebral metabolism using HP [1-13C]Pyruvate. A FSEME-sequence was implemented and optimized and in vivo rat head 13C-scanning was conducted. Identification of cerebral sub-structures in metabolite maps from hyperpolarized [1-13C]Pyruvate in the rat brain was for the first time demonstrated using the rapid FSEME spectroscopic imaging sequence.