Motivation: Sodium homeostasis is altered in abdominal pathologies such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, but established quantification techniques require an invasive biopsy. Goal(s): Quantification of abdominal sodium content and T2* relaxation in abdominal organs and fluid-filled structures using 23Na-MRI. Approach: Proton and sodium imaging of the abdomen was performed in 18 healthy volunteers using a 3D cones sequence and a sodium-tuned body coil on a clinical 3 T system. Results: Mean total sodium concentration and long T2* relaxation times were measured in 8 organs and fluid-filled structures; results agreed with previously published work in human and animal models. Impact: Quantitative 23Na-MRI measurements in healthy volunteers will serve as a baseline to evaluate pathological changes in hypertension and kidney tumour characterisation. This may assist in the assessment of treatment efficacy, thereby reducing the need for invasive biopsy techniques.

Sodium Quantification in the Abdomen at 3 T