Purpose: To reduce functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) susceptibility distortion at the air/tissue interphase in animal experiments.
Materials and methods: We investigated the applicability of a body-adaptable flexible mold consisting of a fast-setting alginate. This technique was implemented for subcutaneous growing tumors in rats and for the brains of monkeys.
Results: The T(2)*-weighted gradient-echo, echo-planar imaging (GE-EPI) data obtained with the body-adapted mold showed a reduction of susceptibility artifacts and improved image quality. With both rat tumor and monkey brain, an optimized match with the anatomical T(1) images was possible.
Conclusion: The present mold methodology is a rapid, easy, and inexpensive way to reduce magnetic susceptibility during animal GE-EPI.
Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.