Multi-channel magnetic resonance spectroscopy graphical user interface (McMRSGUI)

Abstract

This work introduces an open-sourced graphical user interface (GUI) software enabling the combination of multi-channel magnetic resonance spectroscopy data with different literature-based methods for the improvement of the quality and reliability of combined spectra. The multi-channel magnetic resonance spectroscopy graphical user interface (McMRSGUI) is a MATLAB-based spectroscopy processing GUI equipped to load multi-channel MRS data, pre-process, combine, and export combined data for evaluation with open-source quantification software (jMRUI). A literature-based, decision-tree process was incorporated into the combination type selection to serve as a guide to minimize spectral distortion in selecting between weighting methods. Multi-channel, simulated spectra were combined with the different combination techniques and evaluated for spectral distortion to validate the code. The incorporation of the combination methods into a single processing software enables multi-channel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data to be combined and compared for improved spectral quality with little user knowledge of combination techniques. Through the spectral peak distortion simulation of the combination methods, combined signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values from the literature were verified. The spectral peak distortion simulation provides a secondary tool for researchers to estimate the spectral SNR levels when spectral distortion could occur and use this knowledge to further guide the selection of their combination technique. The McMRSGUI provides a software toolkit for evaluating multi-channel MRS data and their combination. Simulations evaluating spectral distortion at different noise levels were performed for each combination method to validate the GUI and demonstrate a method for researchers to assess the combined SNR levels at which they could be introducing spectral distortion.