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Comparison of ultrashort echo time sequences for MRI of an ancient mummified human hand
Author(s) -
Özen Ali Caglar,
Ludwig Ute,
Öhrström Lena Maria,
Rühli Frank Jakobus,
Bock Michael
Publication year - 2016
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.25651
Subject(s) - pulse (music) , nuclear magnetic resonance , echo time , signal (programming language) , materials science , magnetic resonance imaging , physics , computer science , medicine , optics , radiology , detector , programming language
Purpose To compare the three different short‐echo time (TE) pulse sequences ultrashort echo time (UTE), point‐wise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA), and single point imaging (SPI) for MRI of ancient remains. Methods MRI of mummies is challenging due to the extremely low water content and the very short transverse relaxation times T 2 *. To overcome the signal loss associated with the short T 2 *, three pulse sequences with very short TEs were compared. MR images of an ancient mummified human hand were acquired at field strengths of 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3T using home‐made solenoid Tx/Rx radiofrequency (RF) coils. Results In all MR images, tissues could be differentiated and anatomical structures such as bones and tendons were clearly identified. Skin with embalming resin was hyperintense in MRI, whereas it appeared iso‐intense in computed tomography. PETRA has the highest signal to noise ratio. With UTE, short scan times and a homogeneous RF excitation can be achieved, and blurring is less pronounced than with PETRA. SPI shows no blurring artifacts; however, it requires long scan times. Conclusion This work provided an initial analysis for the optimization of imaging protocols for paleoradiology studies with MRI, and, ultimately, for MRI of tissue with extremely short T 2 *. Magn Reson Med 75:701–708, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.