Optimization of 7-T Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Parameters for Validation of Glycosaminoglycan and Amide Proton Transfer of Fibroglandular Breast Tissue

Purpose: To (a) implement simulation-optimized chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) measurements sensitive to amide proton transfer (APT) and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) hydroxyl proton transfer effects in the human breast at 7 T and (b) determine the reliability of these techniques for evaluation of fibroglandular tissue in the healthy breast as a benchmark for future studies of pathologic findings.

Materials and Methods: All human studies were institutional review board approved, were HIPAA compliant, and included informed consent. The CEST parameters of saturation duration (25 msec) and amplitude (1 mu T) were chosen on the basis of simulation-driven optimization for APT contrast enhancement with the CEST effect quantified by using residuals of a Lorentzian fit. Optimized parameters were implemented at 7 T in 10 healthy women in two separate examinations to evaluate the reliability of CEST magnetic resonance (MR) imaging measurements in the breast. CEST z-spectra were acquired over saturation offset frequencies ranging between +/- 40 ppm by using a quadrature unilateral breast coil. The imaging-repeat imaging reliability was assessed in terms of the intraclass correlation coefficient, which indicates the ratio of between-subject variation to total variation.

Results: Simulations were performed of the Bloch equations with chemical exchange-guided selection of optimal values for pulse duration and amplitude, 25 msec and 1 mu T, respectively. Reliability was evaluated by using intraclass correlation coefficients (95% confidence intervals), with acceptable results: 0.963 (95% confidence interval: 0.852, 0.991) and 0.903 (95% confidence interval: 0.609, 0.976) for APT and GAG, respectively.

Conclusion: Simulations were used to derive optimal CEST preparation parameters to elicit maximal CEST contrast enhancement in healthy fibroglandular breast tissue due to APT at 7 T. By using these parameters, reproducible values were obtained for both the amide and hydroxyl protons from CEST MR imaging at 7 T and are feasible in the human breast.