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3D 23Na MRI of human skeletal muscle at 7 Tesla: initial experience

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate healthy skeletal muscle pre- and post-exercise via 7 T 23Na MRI and muscle proton T2 mapping, and to evaluate diabetic muscle pre- and post-exercise via 7 T 23Na MRI.

Methods

The calves of seven healthy subjects underwent imaging pre- and post-exercise via 7 T 23Na MRI (3D fast low angle shot, TR/TE = 80 ms/0.160 ms, 4 mm × 4 mm × 4 mm) and 1 week later by 1H MRI (multiple spin-echo sequence, TR/TE = 3,000 ms/15–90 ms). Four type 2 diabetics also participated in the 23Na MRI protocol. Pre- and post-exercise sodium signal intensity (SI) and proton T2 relaxation values were measured/calculated for soleus (S), gastrocnemius (G), and a control, tibialis anterior (TA). Two-tailed t tests were performed.

Results

In S/G in healthy subjects post-exercise, sodium SI increased 8–13% (p < 0.03), then decreased (t 1/2 = 22 min), and 1H T2 values increased 12–17% (p < 0.03), then decreased (t 1/2 = 12–15 min). In TA, no significant changes in sodium SI or 1H T2 values were seen (−2.4 to 1%, p > 0.17). In S/G in diabetics, sodium SI increased 10–11% (p < 0.04), then decreased (t 1/2 = 27–37 min) without significant change in the TA SI (−3.6%, p = 0.066).

Conclusion

It is feasible to evaluate skeletal muscle via 3D 23Na MRI at 7 T. Post-exercise muscle 1H T2 values return to baseline more rapidly than sodium SI. Diabetics may demonstrate delayed muscle sodium SI recovery compared with healthy subjects.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge support from the RSNA (RR0806) and NIAMS/NIH (R01-AR053133–01A2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging/Hospital for Joint Diseases, 660 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Gregory Chang, Ligong Wang & Ravinder R. Regatte

  2. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Ottawa General Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1H 8L6

    Mark E. Schweitzer

Authors
  1. Gregory Chang
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  2. Ligong Wang
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  3. Mark E. Schweitzer
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  4. Ravinder R. Regatte
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Correspondence to Gregory Chang.

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Chang, G., Wang, L., Schweitzer, M.E. et al. 3D 23Na MRI of human skeletal muscle at 7 Tesla: initial experience. Eur Radiol 20, 2039–2046 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1761-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1761-3

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