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13C imaging—a new diagnostic platform

  • Magnetic Resonance
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Abstract

The evolution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been astounding since the early 1980s, and a broad range of applications has emerged. To date, clinical imaging of nuclei other than protons has been precluded for reasons of sensitivity. However, with the recent development of hyperpolarization techniques, the signal from a given number of nuclei can be increased as much as 100,000 times, sufficient to enable imaging of nonproton nuclei. Technically, imaging of hyperpolarized nuclei offers several unique properties, such as complete lack of background signal and possibility for local and permanent destruction of the signal by means of radio frequency (RF) pulses. These properties allow for improved as well as new techniques within several application areas. Diagnostically, the injected compounds can visualize information about flow, perfusion, excretory function, and metabolic status. In this review article, we explain the concept of hyperpolarization and the techniques to hyperpolarize 13C. An overview of results obtained within angiography, perfusion, and catheter tracking is given, together with a discussion of the particular advantages and limitations. Finally, possible future directions of hyperpolarized 13C MRI are pointed out.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Research, Malmö University Hospital, 205 02, Malmö, Sweden

    Sven Månsson

  2. Amersham Health R&D AB, Medeon, 205 12, Malmö, Sweden

    Edvin Johansson, Peter Magnusson, Georg Hansson, J. Stefan Petersson & Klaes Golman

  3. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Malmö University Hospital, 205 02, Malmö, Sweden

    Chun-Ming Chai

  4. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Lund University Hospital, 221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Freddy Ståhlberg

  5. Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University Hospital, 221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Freddy Ståhlberg

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  1. Sven Månsson
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Correspondence to Sven Månsson.

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Månsson, S., Johansson, E., Magnusson, P. et al. 13C imaging—a new diagnostic platform. Eur Radiol 16, 57–67 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2806-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2806-x

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