Meeting Banner
Abstract #0620

Glutamate-Glutamine Detection Using 1H MRS in the Human Cervical Spinal Cord at 3T

Bhavana Shantilal Solanky1, Khaled Abdel-Aziz2, Marios Yiannakas1, Olga Ciccarelli2, Claudia A. M. Wheeler-Kingshott1

1NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom; 2NMR Research Unit, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitaion, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom

Here we demonstrate quantitative measurements of the Glutamate/Glutamine complex (Glx) in the cervical spinal cord of healthy controls using 1H MRS at 3T. Sequences readily available were compared for the measure of Glutamate and Glx in the spinal cord, a challenging region of interest due to its small volume, B0 inhomogeneities, and physiological motion. A short TE PRESS, and STEAM sequence were both tested. LCmodel was used to obtain measures for the reliability of the Glx fit (CRLB %) and concentrations. A reliable fit was found in all subjects using PRESS (CRLB<20%). No reliable Glx fits were achieved using STEAM.

Keywords

acceptable achievable achieved addition alterations asses attention available averaging avoid basis best better bodies bounds brain cervical challenging channel chemical clinical clinically coil collar collecting component concentration controls cord coronal coupled despite detection diseases dominating either elements elusive enable enabled essential excitatory expected fact failed feasibility fits fitted funding future gamma glutamate healthy hence highly human immobilization improvement in vivo include indicated inherent inhomogeneities institute kingdom localization made many measuring medical metabolites minimize model moist motion multiplet namely near neck neither neurology neurotransmitter oblique overcome overlap overview oxford participants particular particularly peak peripheral physiological placement play poor prescribed press protocol providing quality quantification quantitative readily recent reduce reduction reflected reliability reliable reliably repair reported reproducibility required restrict scaled scanner scanning sclerosis selecting short shorter simulated simulations smith spectra spectral spectroscopy spinal spine steam still strongly structure studies subject subjects survey susceptible systems table though threshold triggered unable unit volunteer volunteers water worn written