title: Feasibility of ultra-short echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging for identification of carious lesions.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of ultra short echo time imaging for the assessment of caries lesions and early demineralization. 12 patients with suspected caries lesions underwent a dental magnetic resonance imaging investigation comprising ultra short echo time imaging (echo time=50 μs) and spin echo imaging. Before the dental magnetic resonance imaging, all patients underwent a conventional clinical dental investigation including visual assessment of the teeth as well as dental x-ray imaging. All lesions identifiable in the x-ray could be clearly identified in the ultra short echo time images, but only about 19% of the lesions were visible in the spin echo images. In 19% of all lesions, the lesions could be more clearly delineated in the ultra short echo time images than in the x-ray images. This was especially the case for secondary lesions. In direct comparison with the x-ray images, all lesions appeared substantially larger in the dental magnetic resonance imaging data. The presented data provide evidence that caries lesions can be identified in ultra short echo time magnetic resonance imaging with high sensitivity. The apparent larger volume of the lesions in dental magnetic resonance imaging may be attributed to fluid accumulation in demineralized areas without substantial breakdown of mineral structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Ulm, and Department of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology, and Pedodontics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna-Katinka
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bracher
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bornstedt
authors.forename: Saïd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boujraf
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hell
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ulrici
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spahr
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rasche
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity