Phase-difference and spectroscopic imaging for monitoring of human brain temperature during cooling

Decrease of the human brain temperature was induced by intranasal cooling. The main purpose of this study was to compare the two magnetic resonance methods for monitoring brain temperature changes during cooling: phase-difference and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) with high spatial resolution. Ten healthy volunteers were measured. Selective brain cooling was performed through nasal cavities using saline-cooled balloon catheters. MRSI was based on a radiofrequency spoiled gradient echo sequence. The spectral information was encoded by incrementing the echo time of the subsequent eight image records. Reconstructed voxel size was 1×1×5 mm³. Relative brain temperature was computed from the positions of water spectral lines. Phase maps were obtained from the first image record of the MRSI sequence. Mild hypothermia was achieved in 15–20 min. Mean brain temperature reduction varied in the interval <−3.0; − 0.6>°C and <−2.7; − 0.7>°C as measured by the MRSI and phase-difference methods, respectively. Very good correlation was found in all locations between the temperatures measured by both techniques except in the frontal lobe. Measurements in the transversal slices were more robust to the movement artifacts than those in the sagittal planes. Good agreement was found between the MRSI and phase-difference techniques.