Generalization of quasi-steady-state reconstruction to CEST MRI with two-tiered RF saturation and gradient-echo readout-Synergistic nuclear Overhauser enhancement contribution to brain tumor amide proton transfer-weighted MRI

PurposeWhile amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) MRI has been adopted in tumor imaging, there are concurrent APT, magnetization transfer, and nuclear Overhauser enhancement changes. Also, the APTw image is confounded by relaxation changes, particularly when the relaxation delay and saturation time are not sufficiently long. Our study aimed to extend a quasi-steady-state (QUASS) solution to determine the contribution of the multipool CEST signals to the observed tumor APTw contrast. MethodsOur study derived the QUASS solution for a multislice CEST-MRI sequence with an interleaved RF saturation and gradient-echo readout between signal averaging. Multiparametric MRI scans were obtained in rat brain tumor models, including T-1, T-2, diffusion, and CEST scans. Finally, we performed spinlock model-based multipool fitting to determine multiple concurrent CEST signal changes in the tumor. ResultsThe QUASS APTw MRI showed small but significant differences in normal and tumor tissues and their contrast from the acquired asymmetry calculation. The spinlock model-based fitting showed significant differences in semisolid magnetization transfer, amide, and nuclear Overhauser enhancement effects between the apparent and QUASS CEST MRI. In addition, we determined that the tumor APTw contrast is due to synergistic APT increase (+3.5 ppm) and NOE decrease (-3.5 ppm), with their relative contribution being about one third and two thirds under a moderate B-1 of 0.75 mu T at 4.7 T. ConclusionOur study generalized QUASS analysis to gradient-echo image readout and quantified the underlying tumor CEST signal changes, providing an improved elucidation of the commonly used APTw MRI.