Self-gated bSSFP sequences to detect iron-labeled cancer cells and/or metastases in vivo in mouse liver at 7 Tesla.

Background: To develop and evaluate three-dimensional (3D) self-gated balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) imaging at high magnetic fields to track iron-labeled cells and metastases in murine abdomens.

Methods: Mice were injected intravenously with iron-labeled melanoma cells and imaged at 7 Tesla (T). Respiration peaks were identified using Free Induction Decay acquired immediately after the radiofrequency pulse.