Measurement of fat fraction in the human thymus by localized NMR and three-point Dixon MRI techniques.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To develop a protocol to non-invasively measure and map fat fraction, fat/(fat+water), as a function of age in the adult thymus for future studies monitoring the effects of interventions aimed at promoting thymic rejuvenation and preservation of immunity in older adults.

Materials and methods

Three-dimensional spoiled gradient echo 3T MRI with 3-point Dixon fat-water separation was performed at full inspiration for thymus conspicuity in 36 volunteers 19 to 56 years old. Reproducible breath-holding was facilitated by real-time pressure recording external to the console. The MRI method was validated against localized spectroscopy in vivo, with ECG triggering to compensate for stretching during the cardiac cycle. Fat fractions were corrected for T₁ and T

SUBMITTER: Fishbein KW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5971004 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature