Mapping brain metabolites using a double echo-filter metabolite imaging (DEFMI) technique.

A double echo-filter metabolite imaging (DEFMI) technique was developed for spatial mapping of low-concentration metabolites in the human brain. This imaging technique simultaneously acquires two images from two individual metabolites, respectively, using conventional imaging acquisition. It provides (i) efficient water and lipid suppressions, (ii) the capability of collecting high-resolution metabolite images within a short time and creating a ratio image from two interesting metabolites within a single experiment, and (iii) flexibility and simplicity for experimental setup and data processing. The technique was examined by both phantom and human brain experiments at 4 Tesla. The results reveal that the DEFMI technique is promising for applications in metabolism studies aimed at investigating physiological and pathological questions. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.