Towards Whole Brain Diffusion Tensor Spectroscopic Imaging

Abstract

Here we describe the development of a high-spatial resolution multi-slice single-shot Diffusion-Tensor proton-echo-planar-spectroscopic-imaging (PEPSI) technique using a binomial spatial-spectral refocusing RF pulse for mapping the diffusion tensor of water, Cho, Cr and NAA. Analysis of NAA and water diffusion in white matter obtained in a 4-slice acquisition with 1cc voxel size in 6 minutes (b max = 2430.7 mm 2 /s) showed a mean ADC value of 0.15*10 -3 and 0.66*10 -3 mm 2 /s, which is consistent with values reported in the literature. Single-shot high spatial resolution diffusion sensitive MR spectroscopic imaging has the potential to probe metabolite diffusion across extended brain regions.