Abstract
19F MRI is emerging as a new imaging technique for cell tracking. It is particularly attractive because of its potential for direct and precise cell quantification. The most important challenge towards in vivo applications is the sensitivity of the technique, i.e. the detection limit in a reasonable imaging time. Optimal sensitivity can be achieved with dedicated 19F compounds together with specifically adapted hardware and acquisition methods. In this paper we introduce the 19F MRI technique focusing on these key sensitivity issues and review the state-of-the-art of 19F MRI and developments towards its clinical use. We calculate 19F detection limits reported in preclinical cell and clinical 19F drug studies in terms of tissue concentration in a 1 cm3 voxel, as an alternate way to compare detection limits. We estimate that a tissue concentration of a few millimoles per litre (mM) of 19F is required for a human study at a resolution of 1 cm3.
Key Points
• Direct and precise cell quantification can be done by 19 F MRI.
• 19 F MRI sensitivity is the most important parameter towards clinical application.
• A number of (technical) considerations can improve sensitivity significantly.
• A few millimoles per litre (mM) of 19 F per voxel is required for adequate detection.
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Abbreviations
- CA:
-
Contrast agent
- 2D:
-
Two-dimensional
- Dy:
-
Dysprosium
- FDA:
-
Food and drug administration
- FOV:
-
Field of view
- F-uTSI:
-
Fluorine ultrafast turbo spectroscopic imaging
- GRE:
-
Gradient echo
- MRI:
-
Magnetic resonance imaging
- MRSI:
-
Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging
- PFC:
-
Perfluorocarbon
- PFOB:
-
Perfluorooctyl bromide
- RF:
-
Radiofrequency
- ROI:
-
Region of interest
- SAR:
-
Specific absorption rate
- SE:
-
Spin echo
- SNR/t:
-
Signal to noise ratio per unit scan time
- SSFP:
-
Steady-state free precession
- TE:
-
Echo time
- TR:
-
Repetition time
- UTE:
-
Ultrashort echo time
- ZTE:
-
Zero echo time
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Acknowledgements
The scientific guarantor of this publication is Prof. Arend Heerschap. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. This work was financially supported by the European Union EU-FP7 ENCITE (HEALTH-F5-2008-201842) grant and Netherlands Institute for Regenerative Medicine (NIRM) FES0908. MS is supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) VENI 700.10.409 and the European Research Council (ERC) ERC-2014-StG-336454-CoNQUeST and JdV by NWO-VIDI 917.76.363. Methodology: performed at one institution.
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Amiri, H., Srinivas, M., Veltien, A. et al. Cell tracking using 19F magnetic resonance imaging: Technical aspects and challenges towards clinical applications. Eur Radiol 25, 726–735 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3474-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3474-5