Background: Three-dimensional (3D) multiecho balanced steady-state free precession (ME-bSSFP) has previously been demonstrated in preclinical hyperpolarized (HP) C-MRI in vivo experiments, and it may be suitable for clinical metabolic imaging of prostate cancer (PCa).
Purpose: To validate a signal simulation framework for the use of sequence parameter optimization. To demonstrate the feasibility of ME-bSSFP for HP C-MRI in patients.
Objective: To develop a phantom system which can be integrated with an automated injection system, eliminating the experimental variability that arises with manual injection; for the purposes of pulse sequence testing and metric derivation in hyperpolarised C-MR.
Methods: The custom dynamic phantom was machined from Ultem and filled with a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and lactate dehydrogenase mixture dissolved in phosphate buffered saline. Hyperpolarised [1-C]-pyruvate was then injected into the phantom ( = 8) via an automated syringe pump and the conversion of pyruvate to lactate monitored through a C imaging sequence.
Hyperpolarised C MRI (HP-MRI) is a novel imaging technique that allows real-time analysis of metabolic pathways . The technology to conduct HP-MRI in humans has recently become available and is starting to be clinically applied. As knowledge of molecular biology advances, it is increasingly apparent that cancer cell metabolism is related to disease outcomes, with lactate attracting specific attention.
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