Bi ‐exponential 23Na T2* component analysis in the human brain

The purpose of this study was to measure the sodium transverse relaxation time T2* in the healthy human brain. Five healthy subjects were scanned with 18 echo times (TEs) as short as 0.17 ms. T2* values were fitted on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis using a bi‐exponential model. Data were also analysed using a continuous distribution fit with a region of interest‐based inverse Laplace transform. Average T2* values were 3.4 ± 0.2 ms and 23.5 ± 1.8 ms in white matter (WM) for the short and long components, respectively, and 3.9 ± 0.5 ms and 26.3 ± 2.6 ms in grey matter (GM) for the short and long components, respectively, using the bi‐exponential model. Continuous distribution fits yielded results of 3.1 ± 0.3 ms and 18.8 ± 3.2 ms in WM for the short and long components, respectively, and 2.9 ± 0.4 ms and 17.2 ± 2 ms in GM for the short and long components, respectively. 23Na T2* values of the brain for the short and long components for various anatomical locations using ultra‐short TEs are presented for the first time. Healthy subjects were scanned using 23Na ultra‐short echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 18 TEs between 0.17 and 67 ms. T2* values were fitted on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis using a bi‐exponential model and using a continuous distribution fit with a region of interest‐based inverse Laplace transform. Detailed 23Na T2* values of the brain for the short and long components for various anatomical locations using UTEs are...
Source: NMR in Biomedicine - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research