Eftekhari Zeinab, Shaw Thomas B, Deelchand Dinesh K, Marjańska Małgorzata, Bogner Wolfgang, Barth Markus
ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology (CIBIT), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
NMR Biomed. 2025 Aug;38(8):e70087. doi: 10.1002/nbm.70087.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H MRS) is a valuable non-invasive technique for quantifying biochemical compounds in vivo, facilitating the monitoring of disease progression and treatment. This study evaluates the reliability and reproducibility of H MRS measurements by comparing data acquired with STEAM and sLASER sequences at 3 T and 7 T. We assessed test-retest reliability and reproducibility by scanning healthy participants twice with STEAM and sLASER at 3 T and 7 T in two different voxel locations about 1 week apart, investigating the impact of measurement conditions on results. Reliability was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), whereas reproducibility was assessed with the coefficients of variation (CV). Our findings reveal that data acquired with the sLASER sequence show superior reliability and reproducibility compared to STEAM for most metabolites at both fields. Although the higher field strength of 7 T provides advantages in signal-to-noise ratio and resolution as expected, our study highlights that a field strength of 3 T provides a suitable alternative when ultra-high-field scanners are unavailable. This study provides valuable insights for researchers regarding the selection of appropriate MRS sequences and field strengths based on reliability and reproducibility. Our findings underscore the importance of consistent measurements over time, guiding decisions in longitudinal studies and enhancing data consistency.
质子磁共振波谱（H MRS）是一种用于在体内定量生化化合物的有价值的非侵入性技术，有助于监测疾病进展和治疗情况。本研究通过比较在3 T和7 T场强下使用STEAM和sLASER序列采集的数据，评估了H MRS测量的可靠性和可重复性。我们通过在3 T和7 T场强下，在两个不同的体素位置，以大约相隔1周的时间间隔，用STEAM和sLASER对健康参与者进行两次扫描，来评估重测可靠性和可重复性，研究测量条件对结果的影响。使用组内相关系数（ICC）测量可靠性，而用变异系数（CV）评估可重复性。我们的研究结果表明，对于两个场强下的大多数代谢物，与STEAM相比，用sLASER序列采集的数据显示出更高的可靠性和可重复性。尽管7 T的更高场强如预期在信噪比和分辨率方面具有优势，但我们的研究强调，当无法使用超高场强扫描仪时，3 T的场强提供了一个合适的替代方案。本研究为研究人员基于可靠性和可重复性选择合适的MRS序列和场强提供了有价值的见解。我们的研究结果强调了随时间进行一致测量的重要性，为纵向研究中的决策提供指导，并提高数据的一致性。
