Deuterium Metabolic Imaging—Rediscovery of a Spectroscopic Tool
Ilona Polvoy, Hecong Qin, Robert R. Flavell, Jeremy W. Gordon, Pavithra Viswanath, Renuka Sriram, Michael A. Ohliger, David M. Wilson
Abstract
H) Metabolic Imaging (DMI), a robust method based on administration of a substrate (glucose, acetate, fumarate, etc.) labeled with the stable isotope of hydrogen and the observation of its metabolic fate in three-dimensions. This technique allows the investigation of multiple metabolic processes in both healthy and diseased states. Despite its low natural abundance, the short relaxation time of deuterium allows for rapid radiofrequency (RF) pulses without saturation and efficient image acquisition. In this review, we provide a comprehensive picture of the evolution of DMI over the course of recent decades, with a special focus on its potential clinical applications.