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MR Spectroscopic imaging of collagen: Tendons and knee menisci
Author(s) -
Gold Garry E.,
Pauly John M.,
Macovski Albert,
Herfkens Robert J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.1910340502
Subject(s) - biomedical engineering , magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance , chemistry , materials science , medicine , radiology , physics
Water molecules associated with collagen have short transverse ( T 2 ) relaxation times. Projection‐reconstruction techniques are able to achieve an echo time ( TE ) much shorter than conventional techniques, allowing imaging of tissues with T 2 < 5 ms. Using these techniques, a conventional 1.5‐T MRI human imaging system can directly image collagen‐associated water from knee menisci and tendons in normal volunteers and patients. Long‐ T 2 suppression improves the contrast between these structures and the surrounding tissue with long‐ T 2 relaxation times. Spectroscopic imaging provides improved lipid/water registration and information about chemical composition and relaxation times. Direct imaging of tendons and menisci may provide more information about these structures and provide a new way to assess both injury and repair.