title: High-resolution Fourier-encoded sub-millisecond echo time musculoskeletal imaging at 3 Tesla and 7 Tesla.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The feasibility of imaging musculoskeletal fibrous tissue components, such as menisci, ligaments, and tendons, with a conventional spoiled gradient echo technique is explored in vivo at 3 T and 7 T.
  
  
  METHODS
  To this end, the echo time (TE1 ) of a conventional Fourier-encoded multicontrast three-dimensional SGPR sequence is minimized by using nonselective excitation pulses, highly asymmetric readouts, and a variable TE1 along the phase and slice encoding direction. In addition, a fully sampled second echo image (with TE2 >> TE1 ) can be used to highlight components with short transverse relaxation times in a difference image with positive contrast.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourier-encoded spoiled gradient echo sequences are able to provide sub-millisecond TE1 of about 800 μs for typical in-plane resolutions of about 0.5 x 0.5 mm(2) . As a result, high-resolution positive contrast images of fibrous tissues can be generated within clinically feasible scan-time of about 2-7 minutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After optimization, Fourier-encoded spoiled gradient echo provides a highly robust and flexible imaging technique for high-resolution positive contrast imaging of fibrous tissue that can readily be used in the clinical routine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiological Physics, Department of Radiology, University of Basel Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deligianni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bär
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scheffler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trattnig
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bieri
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity