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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2008; 12(3): 253-265
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1083108
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Novel Contrast Mechanisms at High Field 1

Peter Börnert1 , Oliver Bieri2 , Klaus Scheffler2
  • 1Philips Research Laboratories, Hamburg, Germany
  • 2Division of Radiological Physics, Institute of Radiology, University Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
10 October 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

This article reviews the technical principles of novel contrast mechanisms for musculoskeletal imaging. Ultrashort echo-time imaging allows the visualization of fast T2 relaxing tissue components that are not directly detectable by standard magnetic resonance imaging. This offers several new applications, especially in musculoskeletal imaging, to visualize these tissue components directly. Magnetization transfer techniques, which have been successfully applied to assess demyelinization processes in white brain matter, for example, can be used to detect the integrity of the collagen network of cartilage, and they may help for the detection of early cartilage degradations. Finally, diffusion-weighted imaging represents a further technique to detect bone marrow pathologies or indicate collagen degradation and water content in cartilage. The technical details and implementation techniques of these dedicated imaging modalities are demonstrated and reviewed in this article, and some clinical examples are presented.

KEYWORDS

Ultrashort echo-time imaging - magnetization transfer imaging - diffusion - steady-state free precession

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Klaus Scheffler Ph.D. 

Division of Radiological Physics, Institute of Radiology, University Hospital, University of Basel

Petersgraben 4, CH–4031 Basel, Switzerland

Email: klaus.scheffler@unibas.ch

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