Fast three‐dimensional 1 H MR spectroscopic imaging at 7 Tesla using “spectroscopic missing pulse – SSFP”

The use of spectroscopic Missing Pulse ‐ SSFP ( spMP‐SSFP ) for fast three‐dimensional (3D) proton MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) at 7 Tesla (T) is demonstrated. Sequence modifications were required regarding the limits of the specific absorption rate as well as hardware limitations with respect to maximum B 1 field strength and B 0 gradient slew rate, as compared to previous studies performed at 3T. The combination of two spatially selective radiofrequency (RF) pulses (with orthogonal slice orientation) and a dual‐band chemical shift selective RF pulse for simultaneous water and lipid suppression proved to enable fast 3D MRSI measurements of the brain of healthy volunteers. Using a total measurement time of approximately 8.5 minutes and a nominal and real voxel size of 0.62 cm 3 and 2.6 cm 3 , respectively, signals of N‐acetyl aspartate, total creatine, choline containing compounds, myo‐inositol, and glutamate+glutamine could be detected. Magn Reson Med, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.