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Precise quantification of human in vivo short echo time (1)H spectra remains problematic at clinical field strengths due to broad peak linewidths and low 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 of 10 individuals at 4.0 T. Metabolite levels were quantified using automated software that incorporated field strength-specific prior knowledge. With the distinct methods of data acquisition, processing, and fitting used in this study, peak height SNR increased approximately 80% while peak linewidth increased by approximately 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%. Metabolite levels from test-retest data (1.5 cm(3) voxels at 4.0 T) were quantified with similar inter- and intraindividual variability. Magn Reson Med 44:185-192, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bartha et al. (2000) studied this question.