Comparison of the quantification precision of human short echo time H-1 spectroscopy at 1.5 and 4.0 Tesla

Precise quantification of human in vivo short echo time H-1 spectra remains problematic at clinical field strengths due to broad peak linewidths and l ow signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), In this study, multiple STEAM spectra (TE = 20 ms, volume = 8 cm(3)) were acquired in a single individual at 1.5 T and 4 T to compare quantification precision. Test-retest STEAM spectra (volume = 1.5 cm(3)) were also acquired from the anterior cingulate and thalamus o f 10 individuals at 4.0 T, Metabolite levels were quantified using automate d software that incorporated field strength-specific prior knowledge. With the distinct methods of data acquisition, processing, and fitting used in t his study, peak height SNR increased similar to 80% while peak linewidth in creased by similar to 50% in the 8 cm(3) volumes at 4.0 T) compared to (1.5 T, resulting in an average increase in quantification precision of 39%, Me tabolite levels from test-retest data (1.5 cm(3) voxels at 4.0 T) were quan tified with similar inter- and intraindividual variability. Magn Reson Med 44:185-192, 2000, Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.(dagger)