Abstract #2082

Optimization of pH-Weighted Contrasts in the Spinal Cord using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI

Alicia Cronin^1,2, Patrick Liebig³, Sarah Detombe⁴, Neil Duggal^1,4, and Robert Bartha^1,2

¹Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada, ²Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada, ³Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Erlangen, Germany, ⁴Clinical Neurological Sciences, University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada

Synopsis

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a degenerative disease of the spine that leads to compression and neurological dysfunction. Recovery after surgery can be impacted by hypoxia in the cord, however the magnitude of this effect is currently unknown. Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) can produce contrast related to tissue pH, an indicator of hypoxia, but the method works best at ultra-high fields. Performing CEST in the spinal cord is also complicated by respiratory and cardiac motion and cerebrospinal fluid flow. The purpose of this work was to optimize pH-weighted CEST imaging in the human spinal cord at 3 Tesla.

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