Technical requirements for clinical spectroscopy

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy provides a means of monitoring tissue metabolism and the distribution and metabolism of exogeneous compounds containing an NMR visible atom. The technique is currently developing rapidly, but is demanding in many of its technological requirements. In particular sensitivity is low and there is often a requirement for signal localization and quantification of the measured signal. These requirements place demands both on the hardware in terms of the magnet, shimming facilities, gradients and RF channels and coils and on the measurement and processing software in terms of the sequences and capabilities of the equipment, the localization facilities provided and the processing software available. These components of the system are considered in turn