Lineshape estimation in in vivo MR Spectroscopy without using a reference signal

Metabolites can serve as biomarkers. Estimation of metabolite concentrations from an in vivo MRS signal often uses a reference signal from water for correction of the spectral lineshape. When no reference signal is available, other methods must be applied. The present work concerns semi-parametric estimation of the perturbed line-shape from simulated signals of the metabolites themselves. Errors are obtained from a Monte-Carlo calculation. The method can be useful when the water signal has not been acquired or is distorted, or when measuring on, e.g., ¹³C or ³¹P.