Magnetic resonance imaging of cortical bone with ultrashort TE pulse sequences.
OBJECTIVE
Normal adult cortical bone has a very short T(2) and characteristically produces no signal with pulse sequence echo times (TEs) routinely used in clinical practice. We wished to determine whether it was possible to use ultrashort TE (UTE) pulse sequences to detect signal from cortical bone in human subjects and use this signal to characterise this tissue.


METHODS
Seven volunteers and 10 patients were examined using ultrashort TE pulse sequences (TE=0.07 or 0.08 ms). Short and long inversion as well as fat suppression pulses were used as preparation pulses. Later echo images were also obtained as well as difference images produced by subtracting a later echo image from a first echo image. Saturation pulses were used for T(1) measurement and sequences with progressively increasing TEs for T(2)* measurement. Intravenous gadodiamide was administered to four subjects.


RESULTS
Signal in cortical bone was detected with UTE sequences in children, normal adults and patients. This signal was usually made more obvious by subtracting a later echo image from the first provided that the signal-to-noise ratio was sufficiently high. Normal mean adult T(1)s ranged from 140 to 260 ms, and mean T(2)*s ranged from 0.42 to 0.50 ms. T(1) increased significantly with age (P<.01). Increased signal was observed after contrast enhancement in the normal volunteer and the three patients to whom it was administered. Reduction in signal from short T(2) components was seen in acute fractures, and increase in signal in these components was seen with new bone formation after fracture malunion. In a case of osteoporosis, bone cross-sectional area and signal level appeared reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Signal can be detected from normal and abnormal cortical bone with UTE pulse sequences, and this can be used to measure its T(1) and T(2)* as well as observe contrast enhancement. Difference images are of value in increasing the conspicuity of cortical bone and observing abnormalities in disease.
Reichert
Ines L H
IL
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, London W6 8RF, UK.
Robson
Matthew D
MD
Gatehouse
Peter D
PD
He
Taigang
T
Chappell
Karyn E
KE
Holmes
Joanne
J
Girgis
Samia
S
Bydder
Graeme M
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003287:Contrast Media