Rapid quantification of myocardial lipid content in humans using single breath‐hold 1 H MRS at 3 Tesla

A rapid, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy method to evaluate human myocardial lipid levels in a single breath‐hold at 3 T using a commercial whole‐body system is presented. During a 10 s breath‐hold, water unsuppressed and suppressed spectra were acquired by two phased array coils using a short‐echo time spectroscopic stimulated echo (STEAM) sequence electrocardiogram‐triggered to mid‐diastole. Lipid‐to‐water ratios were obtained in the septum of 15 healthy volunteers, (0.46 ± 0.19)%. These results agreed well with ratios obtained from averaged spectra acquired in seven multiple breath‐holds, (0.45 ± 0.20)%, providing increased signal‐to‐noise ratio but requiring longer acquisition times. Excellent correlation was found between the two methods ( r = 0.94, P < 0.05). Reproducibility of 1 H MRS for measuring myocardial lipid levels in a short breath‐hold was acceptable in five repeated measurements within the same subject (coefficient of variation = 19%). Thus, single breath‐hold proton spectroscopy allows reliable and quick quantification of myocardial lipids at 3 T. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.