Spectroscopy of large volumes: spectroscopic imaging of total body fat.

An extremely large volume of interest (VOI) approximately 60 dm(3) was used for the measurement of the proton ((1)H) spectrum of the human body. The measurements were performed at 1.5 T with a high-speed spectroscopic imaging technique that uses read gradient during acquisition. The spectrum was computed from coronal 30 mm thick slices of a normal male and female volunteer. The fat/water ratio of the body was used to quantify the fat depots. The results were corrected for relaxation effects and were in good agreement with published values of subjects with comparable body mass index (BMI).