Quantitative glutamate spectroscopic imaging of the human hippocampus

Abstract

We have evaluated a three‐dimensional localized spectroscopic imaging sequence that uses two pairs of adiabatic full‐passage pulses, which optimizes the detection of glutamate resonances at moderate echo times. This sequence provides excellent volume localization while simultaneously reducing J‐modulation losses of glutamate. We have simulated the performance of this sequence for glutamate and used it to quantitatively measure glutamate in the human hippocampus using a linear components model. Using tissue segmentation and regression analysis, we measured a glutamate concentration of 8.8 ± 2.1 mM in hippocampal and temporal gray matter and 3.7 ± 1.1 mM in temporal white matter (95% CI). We have used this approach in a small group of patients (n = 5) with unilateral hippocampal epilepsy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Part of CIRS Nexus · Curated by Lauren Lowenstein, The Biotoxin Lady