Welcome to our community-driven repository, dedicated to researchers and practitioners working with Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI on Siemens platforms. Our goal is to compile solutions, including available sequences, tested protocols, and guidance on post-processing.
- First CESTineers Zoom Meeting: 21st February 2024, 4:30 pm (CET). Recording on Youtube https://youtu.be/m0LTWLKARLI
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We provide information on CEST MRI sequences available as WIP (Works in Progress) or via C2P (Customer to Partner). Before using any sequence, ensure you have the sequence, protocol, and matching evaluation ready.
- WIP_816b: by Siemens, for VE11
- WIP_816c: by Siemens, for VE11/12, VAx
- C2P_MP04: By Zaiss Lab, for VE11C, VE11E, XA20A, XA30A, XA31A, XA50A
- By Stöcker Lab, for VE12
- By Yi Zhang Lab, for VE11C, VE11E, XA20A, XA30A, XA31A
For access, contact Siemens or the corresponding developer. Some sequences are also available via Siemens C2P Teamplay Platform.
We share standardized and tested CEST MRI protocols, including APTw-weighted, low-power multi-pool (MP), and more. Visit cest-sources.org for details.
The best and most standardized definition of CEST preparation is provided by the Pulseq-CEST project, which is the source of all defined preparations.
Standard protocols are shared here as .pdf and .pro files. The different protocols, such as APTw-CEST (APTw), lowB1 multi-pool CEST (lowB1-MP), and dynamicGlucoCEST/SL (DGE), are linked to the corresponding papers provided in the readme files.
APTw, lowB1-MP, WASABI, T1satrec
lowB1-MP
Proper post-processing is crucial for reliable CEST results. We list several tools and resources for motion correction, normalization, corrections, and advanced contrast generation.
The important evaluation steps for CEST are:
- motion correction
- normalization by unsaturated scan
- B0 and B1 correction
- spectral/spatial smoothing/denoising
- contrast generation (MTRasym, Lorentzian fitting)
- advanced contrast generation (relaxation compensation, fluid suppression, ...)
If one of these steps is not handled with full care, CEST results are unreliable.
The CEST WIPs have some basic online evaluation, but only for basic asymmetry of APTw protocols. C2P CEST sequences do not have online evaluation and an offline postprocessing is needed.
Available Evaluation tools:
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some basic evaluation is provided on www.cest-sources.org.
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a toolkit integrated in the open source toolkit MITK (https://phabricator.mitk.org/w/mitk/cest/cest_user_manual/)
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CEST data processing tool of the John Hopkins group https://godzilla.kennedykrieger.org/CEST/
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calf - CEST analysis software by Lorentzian fitting calf
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a powerful post processing is provided by OLEA medical (https://www.olea-medical.com/en/solutions/cest/)
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Part of Pulseq-CEST are now also some simpler evaluation example scripts: https://github.com/kherz/pulseq-cest-library/tree/master/eval-examples
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For researchers, a full pipeline in Matlab, from dicom to CEST, can be provided at least for some contrasts upon request from M.Zaiss. This is custom written code and only recommended for advanced users, that are able and willing to adjust codes in Matlab. If this is not given, it is recommended to wait for new releases of more advanced sequences
- Snapshot GRE CEST APTw protocol is described here.
CESTineers is an ISMRM CEST study group initiative, open for everyone interested in advancing CEST MRI research.
Contributors
Kai Herz, Simon Weinmüller, Philipp Ehses, Martin Freudensprung, Moritz Fabian, Jan Schüre, Maria Sedykh, Haoran Mo
Infos here come without any warranty. Some info is based on own experience, other info is based on "what we heard". You have to validate all information yourself.
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