MR spectroscopic imaging of collagen: tendons and knee menisci.
Water molecules associated with collagen have short transverse (T2) relaxation times. Projection-reconstruction techniques are able to achieve an echo time (TE) much shorter than conventional techniques, allowing imaging of tissues with T2 < 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-T2 suppression improves the contrast between these structures and the surrounding tissue with long-T2 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.
Department of Radiology, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA.
G E
GE
Gold
J M
JM
Pauly
A
A
Macovski
R J
RJ
Herfkens
D003094:Collagen; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology
D003094:Collagen