Geofrey J. Topping, Christian Hundshammer, Luca Nagel, Martin Grashei, Maximilian Aigner, Jason G. Skinner, Rolf F. Schulte,  Franz Schilling. (12-2019).

Springer, 2019, doi.org/10.1007/s10334-019-00807-6

Department: 

Research Area A

Abstract: 

Hyperpolarization is an emerging method in magnetic resonance imaging that allows nuclear spin polarization of gases or liquids to be temporarily enhanced by up to fve or six orders of magnitude at clinically relevant feld strengths and administered at high concentration to a subject at the time of measurement. This transient gain in signal has enabled the non-invasive detection and imaging of gas ventilation and difusion in the lungs, perfusion in blood vessels and tissues, and metabolic conversion in cells, animals, and patients. The rapid development of this method is based on advances in polarizer technology, the availability of suitable probe isotopes and molecules, improved MRI hardware and pulse sequence development. Acquisition strategies for hyperpolarized nuclei are not yet standardized and are set up individually at most sites depending on the specifc requirements of the probe, the object of interest, and the MRI hardware. This review provides a detailed introduction to spatially resolved detection of hyperpolarized nuclei and summarizes novel and previously established acquisition strategies for diferent key areas of application.