Quantitative Liver 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at 3T on a Clinical Scanner

PurposeThe aims of this study were (i) to establish a robust and fast method to quantify hepatocellular phosphorus compounds in molar concentration on a 3T clinical scanner, (ii) to evaluate its reproducibility, and (iii) to test its feasibility for a use in large cohort studies. MethodProton-decoupled P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy of liver P-31 compounds were acquired on 85 healthy subjects employing image selected in-vivo spectroscopy localization in 13 min of acquisition at 3T. Absolute quantification was achieved using an external reference and double-matching phantoms (inorganic phosphates and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) solutions). Reproducibility of the method was also examined. ResultsThis method showed a high intra- and interday as well as inter- and intraobserver reproducibility (r > 0.98; P < 0.001), with a high signal to noise ratio (SNR) (i.e., mean SNR of -ATP: 16). The mean liver concentrations of 85 healthy subjects were assessed to be 1.99 0.51 and 2.74 +/- 0.55 mmol/l of wet tissue volume for P-i and -ATP, respectively. ConclusionThis method reliably quantified molar concentrations of liver P-31 compounds on 85 subjects with a short total examination time (approximate to 25 min) on a 3T clinical scanner. Thus, the current method can be readily utilized for a clinical study, such as a large cohort study. Magn Reson Med 71:1670-1675, 2014. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.