Dynamic glucose-enhanced (DGE) MRI in the human brain at 7 T with reduced motion-induced artifacts based on quantitative R1ρ mapping

Purpose Dynamic glucose-enhanced (DGE)-MRI based on chemical exchange-sensitive MRI, that is, glucoCEST and gluco-chemical exchange-sensitive spin-lock (glucoCESL), is intrinsically prone to motion-induced artifacts because the final DGE contrast relies on the difference of images, which were acquired with a time gap of several mins. In this study, identification of different types of motion-induced artifacts led to the development of a 3D acquisition protocol for DGE examinations in the human brain at 7 T with improved robustness in the presence of subject motion. Methods DGE-MRI was realized by the chemical exchange-sensitive spin-lock approach based either on relaxation rate in the rotating frame (R-1 rho)-weighted or quantitative R-1 rho imaging. A 3D image readout was implemented at 7 T, enabling retrospective volumetric coregistration of the image series and quantification of subject motion. An examination of a healthy volunteer without administration of glucose allowed for the identification of isolated motion-induced artifacts. Results Even after coregistration, significant motion-induced artifacts remained in the DGE contrast based on R-1 rho-weighted images. This is due to the spatially varying sensitivity of the coil and was found to be compensated by a quantitative R-1 rho approach. The coregistered quantitative approach allowed the observation of a clear increase of the DGE contrast in a patient with glioblastoma, which did not correlate with subject motion. Conclusion The presented 3D acquisition protocol enables DGE-MRI examinations in the human brain with improved robustness against motion-induced artifacts. Correction of motion-induced artifacts is of high importance for DGE-MRI in clinical studies where an unambiguous assignment of contrast changes due to an actual change in local glucose concentration is a prerequisite.