Observation of cardiac lipids in humans by localized 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging

Different approaches are being explored for the noninvasive observation of myocardial lipids in the human heart by in vivo 1 H NMR spectroscopy. One approach is to measure cardiac lipids using a combination of volume selection and 2D gradient phase encoding. From these data sets lipid images can be reconstructed. By comparing these lipid images with 1 H MR scout images, it is demonstrated that these signals represent epicardial and pericardial lipid. By selecting a smaller bar‐shaped volume combined with 1D phase encoding or by using single volume techniques, it is possible to avoid most of the pericardial and epicardial lipid to obtain myocardial 1 H NMR spectra of the human heart showing lipid signals, as well as trimethylamine and (phospho)creatine signals. These measurements demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining 1 H NMR spectra of the human myocardium.