InverseZ-spectrum analysis for spillover-, MT-, andT₁-corrected steady-state pulsed CEST-MRI - application to pH-weighted MRI of acute stroke

Endogenous chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects are always diluted by competing effects, such as direct water proton saturation (spillover) and semi-solid macromolecular magnetization transfer (MT). This leads to unwanted T2 and MT signal contributions that lessen the CEST signal specificity to the underlying biochemical exchange processes. A spillover correction is of special interest for clinical static field strengths and...