Current practice in the use of MEGA-PRESS spectroscopy for the detection of GABA

There is increasing interest in the use of edited proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the detection of GABA in the human brain. At a recent meeting held at Cardiff University, a number of spectroscopy groups met to discuss the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of GABA-edited MR spectra. This paper aims to set out the issues discussed at this meeting, reporting areas of consensus around parameters and procedures in the field and highlighting those areas where differences remain. It is hoped that this paper can fulfill two needs, providing a summary of the current ‘state-of-the-art’ in the field of GABA-edited MRS at 3T using MEGA-PRESS and a basic guide to help researchers new to the field to avoid some of the pitfalls inherent in the acquisition and processing of edited MRS for GABA. ► Report from a recent meeting of researchers using MEGA-PRESS for GABA ► Practicalities and issues of acquisition, processing and quantification discussed ► Provides a basis for standardization and validation in MEGA-PRESS applications ► Improving accessibility of the technique and interpretability of results