Quantitative Na magnetic resonance imaging in the abdomen at 3 T.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of sodium-23 MRI for performing quantitative and non-invasive measurements of total sodium concentration (TSC) and relaxation in a variety of abdominal organs.

Materials And Methods: Proton and sodium imaging of the abdomen was performed in 19 healthy volunteers using a 3D cones sequence and a sodium-tuned 4-rung transmit/receive body coil on a clinical 3 T system. The effects of B non-uniformity on TSC measurements were corrected using the double-angle method.