7 T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis: How Does Spatial Resolution Affect the Detectability of Metabolic Changes in Brain Lesions?

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the utility of increased spatial resolution of magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) at 7 T for the detection of neurochemical changes in multiple sclerosis (MS)–related brain lesions. Materials and Methods This prospective, institutional review board–approved study was performed in 20 relapsing-remitting MS patients (9 women/11 men; mean age ± standard deviation, 30.8 ± 7.7 years) after receiving written informed consent. Metabolic patterns in MS lesions were compared at 3 different spatial resolutions of free induction decay MRSI with implemented parallel imaging acceleration: 2.2 × 2.2 × 8 mm3; 3.4 × 3.4 × 8 mm3; and 6.8 × 6.8 × 8 mm3 voxel volumes, that is, matrix sizes of 100 × 100, 64 × 64, and 32 × 32, respectively. The quality of data was assessed by signal-to-noise ratio and Cramér-Rao lower bounds. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with correction for multiple testing. Results Seventy-seven T2-hyperintense MS lesions were investigated (median volume, 155.7 mm3; range, 10.8–747.0 mm3). The mean metabolic ratios in lesions differed significantly between the 3 MRSI resolutions (ie, 100 × 100 vs 64 × 64, 100 × 100 vs 32 × 32, and 64 × 64 vs 32 × 32; P 12, Cramér-Rao lower bounds

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