Applications of multiple quantum coherence to MR imaging.

Another fundamental type of nuclear spin magnetization, multiple quantum coherence, is shown to provide a further means of differentiating materials detected in the magnetic resonance (MR) experiment. A sequence using pulsed magnetic field gradients and radiofrequency pulses is demonstrated to selectively image only lactic acid in a phantom consisting of bottles of water, concentrated lactic acid, and corn oil. In particular, since water dominates the signal in the body, the double quantum experiment also serves as a strong natural suppression technique. These types of experiments are predicted to be useful both in MR spectroscopy and imaging when the more dilute metabolites in tissue are to be examined.