Validation of High Spatial Resolution 23Na Imaging of the Skin

Motivation: The storage of sodium in the skin is thought to be a physiologically important regulatory mechanism for blood pressure, volume regulation, and to change with age, hypertension and disease such as renal and cardiovascular disease. Goal(s): To image the skin at higher spatial resolution for improved estimation of skin sodium quantification. Approach: To develop a dual-tuned 23Na/1H skin coil to image a skin ‘phantom’ and the skin in-vivo. To apply a B1-mapping correction and use the skin ‘phantom’ to validate methods, and study the effects of spatial resolution on skin sodium measures. Results: High resolution skin sodium imaging was achieved, improving 23Na quantification. Impact: Improved spatial resolution of sodium imaging measures of the skin will provide improved assessment of quantification of skin sodium to study the effects of age, ethnicity and disease.