Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Imaging of Creatine Metabolites: a 3.0 T MRI Pilot

Objective To determine the feasibility of using chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging to measure creatine (Cr) metabolites with 3.0 T MR. Methods Phantoms containing different concentrations of Cr under various pH conditions were studied with CEST sequence on 3.0 T MR imaging. CEST effect and Z spectra were analyzed. Results Cr exhibited significant CEST effect (±1.8 ppm, F=99.08, P<0.001) on 3.0 T MR imaging, and positive correlation was found between the signal intensity and concentration of Cr ( r =0.963， P<0.001). The CEST effect showed pH dependency of Cr ( r =0.41， P=0.035). Conclusion Creatine CEST imaging can be performed on 3.0 T MR imaging. Creatine concentrations and pH influence CEST effect.