snapshot CEST++ : the next snapshot CEST for fast whole-brain APTw imaging at 3T

TL;DR

This paper introduces Snapshot CEST++, a fast, efficient method for whole-brain APT CEST imaging at 3T that optimizes protocol settings and employs compressed sensing for rapid acquisition and online reconstruction.

Contribution

It proposes an optimized protocol and a compressed sensing approach enabling 1.8mm isotropic whole-brain APT CEST maps in under 2 minutes at 3T.

Findings

Whole-brain APT CEST maps acquired in less than 2 minutes.

Use of spatial-temporal compressed sensing improves coverage and speed.

Online reconstruction facilitates clinical application.

Abstract

CEST suffers from two main problems long acquisitin times or restricted coverage as well as incoherent protocol settings. In this paper we give suggestions on how to optimise your protocol settings fro CEST and present one setting for APT CEST. To increase the coverage while keeping the acquisition time constant we suggest using a spatial temporal Compressed Sensing approach. Finally, 1.8mm isotropic whole brain APT CEST maps can be acquired in a little bit less than 2min with a fully integrated online reconstruction. This will pave the way to an even further clinical use of CEST.