Multi-band frequency encoding method for metabolic imaging with hyperpolarized [1-(13)C]pyruvate

A new method was developed for simultaneous spatial localization and spectral separation of multiple compounds based on a single echo, by designing the acquisition to place individual compounds in separate frequency encoding bands. This method was specially designed for rapid and robust metabolic imaging of hyperpolarized (13)C substrates and their metabolic products, and was investigated in phantom studies and studies in normal mice and transgenic models of prostate cancer to provide rapid metabolic imaging of hyperpolarized [1-(13)C]pyruvate and its metabolic products [1-(13)C]lactate and [1-(13)C]alanine at spatial resolutions up to 3mm in-plane. Elevated pyruvate and lactate signals in the vicinity of prostatic tissues were observed in transgenic tumor mice. The multi-band frequency encoding technique enabled rapid metabolic imaging of hyperpolarized (13)C compounds with important advantages over prior approaches, including less complicated acquisition and reconstruction methods.