Comparison of the quantification precision of human short echo time 1H spectroscopy at 1.5 and 4.0 Tesla

Precise quantification of human in vivo short echo time 1H 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 cm3) were acquired in a single individual at 1.5 T and 4 T to compare quantification precision. Test–retest STEAM spectra (volume = 1.5 cm3) 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 ∼80% while peak linewidth increased by ∼50% in the 8 cm3 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 cm3 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.