Simultaneous Imaging of 13C Metabolism and 1H Structure for Improved Co-Registration and Off-Resonance Correction

Jeremy W. Gordon¹, David J. Niles¹, Kevin M. Johnson¹, Matthew Smith¹, Krishna N. Kurpad¹, Eric Peterson¹, Sean B. Fain¹, ²

Proton data can be used to aid in the reconstruction of hyperpolarized ¹³C metabolites, but motion between scans diminishes reconstruction fidelity. This works seeks to improve ¹³C reconstruction by utilizing simultaneously acquired ¹H data, which are inherently registered both spatially and temporally. A simultaneous acquisition scheme was implemented in spiral and Cartesian sequences to demonstrate the feasibility and utility of concurrently acquired ¹H data. Metabolite images show excellent registration with the underlying anatomy, while phase related artifacts were mitigated when ¹³C data was reconstructed with simultaneously acquired field maps, as compared to a field map acquired prior to simultaneous imaging.