Advancement of a novel 31P MRS-based approach for the in vivo determination of pH and magnesium ion content

Motivation: The reliability of conventional 31P MRS-based methods for the determination of pH and magnesium ion content (Mg) is hampered when applied to pathologies due to their calibration for physiological conditions. Goal(s): The aim of this study was the advancement of a novel approach for pH and Mg mapping to improve its reliability for application in vivo. Approach: This advancement was performed by incorporating an additional input parameter into the approach and tested on in vivo 31P MRSI brain datasets. Results: Compared to the original algorithm, the advanced version resulted in robust mapping of pH and Mg yielding homogeneous brain maps for healthy volunteers. Impact: The advancement of a novel approach for the in vivo determination of pH and magnesium ion content under different chemical conditions improves its reliability and can now potentially be used for the investigation of pathologies such as cancer.