H. Serrai et al., Water modeled signal removal and data quantification in localized MR spectroscopy using a time-scale postacquistion method, J MAGN RES, 149(1), 2001, pp. 45-51
We have previously shown the continuous wavelet transform (CWT), a signal-p
rocessing tool, which is based upon an iterative algorithm using a lorentzi
an signal model, to be useful as a postacquisition water suppression techni
que. To further exploit this tool we show its usefulness in accurately quan
tifying the signal metabolites after water removal. However, due to the sta
tic held inhomogeneities, eddy currents, and "radiation damping," the water
signal and the metabolites may no longer have a lorentzian lineshape. Ther
efore, another signal model must be used. As the CWT is a flexible method,
we have developed a new algorithm using a gaussian model and found that it
fits the signal components, especially the water resonance, better than the
lorentzian model in most cases. A new framework, which uses the two models
, is proposed. The framework iteratively extracts each resonance, starting
by the water peak; from the raw signal and adjusts its envelope to both the
lorentzian and the gaussian models. The model giving the best fit is selec
ted. As a consequence, the small signals originating from metabolites when
selecting, removing, and quantifying the dominant water resonance from the
raw time domain signal are preserved and an accurate estimation of their co
ncentrations is obtained. This is demonstrated by analyzing (H-1) magnetic
resonance spectroscopy unsuppressed water data collected from a phantom wit
h known concentrations at two different field strengths and data collected
from normal volunteers using two different localization methods. (C) 2001 A
cademic Press.