Gavin Hamilton

Multi‐Parameter Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Cervix

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to examine cervix‐adapted versions of steady‐state multi‐parameter MRS (SMP MRS) and flip‐angle‐corrected multi‐parameter MRS (CMP MRS), comparing estimated cervix T1 w and T2 w for the two sequences. CMP MRS and SMP MRS were adapted from liver versions of the sequences, adding long TR acquisitions to better estimate cervix T1 w . CMP MRS differs from SMP MRS by correcting for inaccurate B1 calibration. Both CMP MRS and SMP MRS were acquired at 3 T in 13 adult female subjects (10 healthy, 3 with cancer). Values of T1 w and T2 w were estimated from both sequences, and the relationship between the values was examined. While there was no significant difference in T1 w given by the two sequences (CMP T1 w  = 1568 ms, SMP T1 w  = 1571 ms, p  = 0.95; SMP T1 w  = 0.657 CMP T1 w  + 541 ms, r  = 0.36), there was a single case where SMP MRS underestimated T1 w by over 400 ms. A significant difference was observed in T2 w (CMP T2 w  = 39.9 ms, SMP T2 w  = 45.6 ms, p  = 0.001; SMP T2 w  = 0.812 CMP T2 w  + 13.3 ms, r  = 0.87). Cervix adapted CMP MRS and SMP MRS both successfully estimated values of T1 w and T2 w , though the single case where SMP MRS gave a non‐physical T1 w suggests CMP MRS may be better suited for cervix T1 w estimation.