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Abstract:
Purpose:
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 mm2. As a result, high-resolution positive contrast images of fibrous tissues can be generated within clinically feasible scan-time of about 2–7 minutes.
Conclusion:
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.
