Chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (2013)
Author(s): CK Jones, CR Figley, PCM van Zijl, PA Calabresi, and SM Courtney
Multiple Sclerosis Journal 19(10): 1391-1423
BACKGROUND: Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) is a new MRI technique that uses saturation (signal destruction) to detect exchangeable protons (such as in OH, NH groups) in very low concentration solutes (mM) via the water signal in MRI. Previous work showed that CEST is related to mobile proteins. The technique is similar to a traditional magnetization transfer (MT) pulse sequence but uses longer duration and low power pulses with minimal effect on MT. In order to assess multiple exchangeable pools, saturation pulses are applied at a number of offset frequencies relative to water, and the free water signal is quantified.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the CEST-NOE image has contrast different from T2 and FLAIR images. Due to the low power saturation pulse, it is not likely to be MT dependent, and therefore might show novel protein changes compared to standard MRI sequences.