Simultaneous 3D NMR spectroscopy of fluorine and phosphorus in human liver during 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy

Simultaneous multivoxel P-31 and F-19 3D localized NMR spectroscopy is demonstrated on a phantom and in the liver of patients undergoing bolus-infusion 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy, The F-19 and P-31 spectra were localized with 8 x 8 x 8 3D chemical-shift imaging, with both nuclei sharing the same field of view and voxel size (27 and 64 ml in phantom and fiver, respectively) using a 1.5-Tesla clinical imager with two RF channels and a dual-tuned surface coil, The repetition time (TR = 0.26 s) and Ernst nutation angles (theta(E) = 32 degrees for F-19, 28 degrees for P-31) were chosen to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) per-unit time for the 0.5- to 2-s T-1 range of the F-19 and P-31 metabolites of interest. The overall examination time, including tuning, imaging, shimming and dual-nuclear spectroscopy, was under 90 min, Simultaneous acquisition of P-31 and F-19 spectra will permit the study of the influence of hepatic and/or tumor metabolism on the uptake and catabolism of fluoropyrimidine drugs with no extra measurement time.