title: Ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI for the assessment of caries lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Direct in vivo MRI of dental hard tissues by applying ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI techniques has recently been reported. The objective of the presented study is to clinically evaluate the applicability of UTE MRI for the identification of caries lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 randomly selected patients (mean age 41 ± 15 years) were enrolled in this study. 39 patients underwent a conventional clinical assessment, dental bitewing X-ray and a dental MRI investigation comprising a conventional turbo-spin echo (TSE) and a dedicated UTE scan. One patient had to be excluded owing to claustrophobia. In four patients, the clinical treatment of the lesions was documented by intraoral pictures, and the resulting volume of the cavity after excavation was documented by dental imprints and compared with the MRI findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 161 lesions were identified. 157 (97%) were visible in the UTE images, 27 (17%) in the conventional TSE images and 137 (85%) in the X-ray images. In total, 14 teeth could not be analysed by MR owing to artefacts caused by dental fillings. All lesions appear significantly larger in the UTE images as compared with the X-ray and TSE images. In situ measurements confirm the accuracy of the lesion dimensions as observed in the UTE images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented data provide evidence that UTE MR imaging can be applied for the identification of caries lesions. Although the current data suggest an even higher sensitivity of UTE MRI, some limitations must be expected from dental fillings.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Ulm, Germany.
authors: A-K
authors: AK
authors: Bracher
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Hofmann
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bornstedt
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Hell
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Janke
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ulrici
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Haller
authors: M-A
authors: MA
authors: Geibel
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Rasche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003442:Crowns; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006047:Gold Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D023861:Photography, Dental / Q000379:methods; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003738:Dental Cements; D003764:Dental Materials; D006047:Gold Alloys; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D003723:Dental Amalgam