Highly-accelerated CEST Measurements in Three Dimensions with Linear Algebraic Modeling.

CEST MRI can provide valuable molecular level information in vivo, but its translation to routine clinics is hindered by long imaging times. Regional average CEST measurements often suffice for quantitative evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment assessment, while allowing much shorter scan times. Recently, the spectroscopy with linear algebraic modeling (SLAM) method was adapted for CEST MRI in two dimensions (2D), directly obtaining compartmental-average measurements manifold faster than conventional CEST. Here, the SLAM CEST method is extended from 2D to 3D, and applied to patients with brain tumors with acceleration factors of up to 98-fold.