FAST PROTON SPECTROSCOPIC IMAGING USING THE SLICED K-SPACE METHOD

The use of one-shot imaging methods for proton spectroscopic imaging (H-1-SI) is examined. In particular the acquisition of K(x) x K(y) x N(t) data points by means of N(t) excitations, each acquiring a K(x) x K(y) k-space slice, is advocated. A number of strategies for realising this experiment, and combining it with water suppression and volume-selection are proposed. The practical implementation at 4.7 T for H-1-SI of the rat brain is described. Experimental results from a 32 x 32 spatial matrix with N(t) = 64 are presented. Spectra obtained from volumes ;as low as 3.5 mul and within measuring times of as little as 3.8 min are shown. In these choline, creatine/phosphocreatine and N-acetylaspartate are all clearly visible.