Spatial characterization of T1 and T2 relaxation times and the water apparent diffusion coefficient in rabbit Achilles tendon subjected to tensile loading.

Tendons exhibit viscoelastic mechanical behavior under tensile loading. The elasticity arises from the collagen chains that form fibrils, while the viscous response arises from the interaction of the water with the solid matrix. Therefore, an understanding of the behavior of water in response to the application of a load is crucial to the understanding of the origin of the viscous response. Three-dimensional MRI mapping of rabbit Achilles tendons was performed at 2.0 T to characterize the response of T(1) and T(2) relaxation times and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of water to tensile loading. The ADC was measured in directions both parallel (ADC( parallel)) and perpendicular (ADC( perpendicular)) to the long axis of the tendon. At a short diffusion time (5.8 ms) MR parameter maps showed the existence of two regions, here termed "core" and "rim", that exhibited statistically significant differences in T(1), T(2), and ADC( perpendicular) under the baseline loading condition. MR parameter maps were also generated at a second loading condition of approximately 1 MPa. At a diffusion time of 5.8 ms, there was a statistically significant increase in the rim region for both ADC( perpendicular) (57.5%) and ADC( parallel) (20.5%) upon tensile loading. The changes in core ADC(( perpendicular), ( parallel)), as well as the relaxation parameters in both core and rim regions, were not statistically significant. The effect of diffusion time on the ADC(( perpendicular), ( parallel)) values was investigated by creating maps at three additional diffusion times (50.0, 125.0, 250.0 ms) using a diffusion-weighted, stimulated-echo (DW-STE) pulse sequence. At longer diffusion times, ADC(( perpendicular), ( parallel)) values increased rather than approaching a constant value. This observation was attributed to T(1) spin-editing during the DW-STE pulse sequence, which resulted in the loss of short-T(1) components (with correspondingly lower ADCs) at longer diffusion times (corroborating the results from earlier spectroscopic work). The T(1) spin-editing effect was observed both in the core and in the rim regions of the tendon and hence was not solely due to the redistribution of water from the core to the rim upon loading. A measure reflective of the regional change in proton density was noted to be consistent with tensile-load-induced water transport from the central to the peripheral tendon region.     

Comparison of apparent diffusion coefficients and distributed diffusion coefficients in high‐grade gliomas

Purpose:

To compare apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) with distributed diffusion coefficients (DDCs) in high‐grade gliomas.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty patients with high‐grade gliomas prospectively underwent diffusion‐weighted MRI. Traditional ADC maps were created using b‐values of 0 and 1000 s/mm². In addition, DDC maps were created by applying the stretched‐exponential model using b‐values of 0, 1000, 2000, and 4000 s/mm². Whole‐tumor ADCs and DDCs (in 10^?3 mm²/s) were measured and analyzed with a paired t‐test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the Bland‐Altman method.

Results:

Tumor ADCs (1.14 ± 0.26) were significantly lower (P = 0.0001) than DDCs (1.64 ± 0.71). Tumor ADCs and DDCs were strongly correlated (R = 0.9716; P < 0.0001), but mean bias ± limits of agreement between tumor ADCs and DDCs was ?0.50 ± 0.90. There was a clear trend toward greater discordance between ADC and DDC at high ADC values.

Conclusion:

Under the assumption that the stretched‐exponential model provides a more accurate estimate of the average diffusion rate than the mono‐exponential model, our results suggest that for a little diffusion attenuation the mono‐exponential fit works rather well for quantifying diffusion in high‐grade gliomas, whereas it works less well for a greater degree of diffusion attenuation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;31:531–537. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

     

High resolution quantitative relaxation and diffusion mri of three different experimental brain tumors in rat

The potential of quantitative parameter images of the relaxation times T₁ and T₂, the proton density p and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to characterize three different experimental rat brain tumors (F98 glioma, RN6 Schwannoma, and E376 neuroblastoma) was studied. All parameter values, as determined in histologically confirmed regions of interest (ROI), were higher in edema than in tumor, which in turn were elevated with respect to normal brain. ROI values of ADC and T₂ delivered statistically significant (P < 0.01) differentiation between tumor and edema. Multidimensional parameter combinations improved differentiation between different tissues. However, the three tumor types could not be differentiated. All parameter maps allowed the identification of the whole tumoredema area. On T₂ images, edema could be identified best, whereas the tumor itself was hardly visualized. In many cases, tumor presentation using T₁ maps corresponded best with histology, nevertheless suffering from a poor tumoredema differentiation.     

Biexponential parameterization of diffusion and T2 relaxation decay curves in a rat muscle edema model: Decay curve components and water compartments

Quantitative T₂ relaxation and diffusion imaging studies of a rat muscle edema model were performed in order to determine the effects of intra‐ and extracellular water compartmentation on the respective decay curves. The right hind paw of rats was injected with a carrageenan solution to generate edematous muscle. A Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) imaging sequence was used to acquire T₂ relaxation decay curves from both paws. A line scan diffusion imaging (LSDI) sequence was then used to acquire diffusion decay curves from the same paws over a wide b‐factor range. Measurements were made from both edematous muscle (EM) and control muscle (CM). The EM and CM T₂ relaxation decay curves were best fit with biexponential functions. The fraction of the fast T₂ component dropped dramatically from approximately 0.95 in CM to 0.45 in EM, consistent with a water compartmentation model in which the fast and slow T₂ components reflect intra‐ and extracellular water, respectively. Both CM and EM diffusion decay curves required biexponential fitting functions, and the diffusion coefficients of the fast and slow components were substantially larger in EM than CM. The fraction of the fast diffusion component, however, was not radically altered between CM and EM conditions (0.84 versus 0.89 for CM versus EM). Assuming a model in which intra‐ and extracellular water compartments are responsible for the fast and slow T₂‐decay components and for the slow and fast diffusion decay components, respectively, leads to fractional sizes of the diffusion components that are not supported by experiment. We conclude that intra‐ and extracellular water compartmentation is a reasonable interpretation for the two T₂‐decay components in both CM and EM but that other factors, such as restricted diffusion and/or alternate forms of water compartmentation like surface versus volume water, most probably have profound influences on the precise shapes of the diffusion decay curves, a complete understanding of which will require significant theoretical work. Magn Reson Med, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Detection of apparent restricted diffusion in healthy rat brain at short diffusion times

The application of bipolar diffusion sensitizing gradient pulses to significantly reduce the diffusion time is described. This approach is combined with the rapid U-FLARE imaging sequence. Three diffusion-sensitized types of experiments are compared and their suitability for detecting restricted diffusion is discussed. Experiments using a modification of the diffusion weighting by varying the diffusion time between 1.6 and 6.0 ms obtained nonmonoexponential signal attenuation curves from both healthy brains and postmortem. This behavior is indicative of restricted diffusion, but as it is detectable only at short diffusion times, in contrast to a restriction due to impermeable barriers, we have termed this “apparent restriction”.     

In vivo quantification of T1, T2, and apparent diffusion coefficient in the mouse retina at 11.74T.

MRI has recently been used for noninvasive examination of retinal structure and function in rats and cats. However, the advantages of quantitative high-resolution MRI of retina from mice have not yet been explored. In the present study, T(1) and T(2) relaxation time constants and the directional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the retina of C57/BL6 mice were measured. Three MR-detected retina layers and a MR-detected choroid layer were observed on both T(1)- and T(2)-weighted images at an image resolution of 47 x 47 x 400 microm(3). The significantly higher ADC parallel to than that perpendicular to the optic nerve in the MR-detected outer retina layer at the central retina reflects the known cellular organization of the photoreceptor cells. This study establishes, for the first time, normative metrics of T(1), T(2), and ADC of the mouse retina. These MR parameters are expected to be useful in future evaluation of developmental and pathological alterations of retinal cell layers in mice.     

Quantitative assessment of myocardial T2 relaxation times in cardiac amyloidosis

Purpose

To evaluate cardiac MRI (CMR) in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis by comparing the T2 relaxation times of left ventricular myocardium in a pilot patient group to a normal range established in healthy controls.

Materials and Methods

Forty‐nine patients with suspected amyloidosis‐related cardiomyopathy underwent comprehensive CMR examination, which included assessment of myocardial T2 relaxation times, ventricular function, resting myocardial perfusion, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. T2‐weighted basal, mid, and apical left ventricular slices were acquired in each patient using a multislice T2 magnetization preparation spiral sequence. Slice averaged T2 relaxation times were subsequently calculated offline and compared to the previously established normal range.

Results

Twelve of the 49 patients were confirmed to have cardiac amyloidosis by biopsy. There was no difference in mean T2 relaxation times between the amyloid cases and normal controls (51.3 ± 8.1 vs. 52.1 ± 3.1 msec, P = 0.63). Eleven of the 12 amyloid patients had abnormal findings by CMR, eight having LGE involving either ventricles or atria and four demonstrating resting subendocardial perfusion defects.

Conclusion

CMR is a potentially valuable tool in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis. However, calculation of myocardial T2 relaxation times does not appear useful in distinguishing areas of amyloid deposition from normal myocardium. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

In vivo measurement of transverse relaxation time in the mouse brain at 17.6 T

Purpose: To establish regional T₁ and T₂ values of the healthy mouse brain at ultra‐high magnetic field strength of 17.6 T and to follow regional brain T₁ and T₂ changes with age. Methods: In vivo T₁ and T₂ values in the C57BL/6J mouse brain were followed with age using multislice‐multiecho sequence and multiple spin echo saturation recovery with variable repetition time sequence, respectively, at 9.4 and 17.6 T. Gadolinium‐tetra‐azacyclo‐dodecane‐tetra‐acetic acid phantoms were used to validate in vivo T₂ measurements. Student's t‐test was used to compare mean relaxation values. Results: A field‐dependent decrease in T₂ is shown and validated with phantom measurements. T₂ values at 17.6 T typically increased with age in multiple brain regions except in the hypothalamus and the caudate‐putamen, where a slight decrease was observed. Furthermore, T₁ values in various brain regions of young and old mice are presented at 17.6 T. A large gain in signal‐to‐noise ratio was observed at 17.6 T. Conclusions: This study establishes for the first time the normative T₁ and T₂ values at 17.6 T over different mouse brain regions with age. The estimates of in vivo T₁ and T₂ will be useful to optimize pulse sequences for optimal image contrast at 17.6 T and will serve as baseline values against which disease‐related relaxation changes can be assessed in mice. Magn Reson Med, 70:985–993, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High magnetic field water and metabolite proton T1 and T2 relaxation in rat brain in vivo.

Comprehensive and quantitative measurements of T1 and T2 relaxation times of water, metabolites, and macromolecules in rat brain under similar experimental conditions at three high magnetic field strengths (4.0 T, 9.4 T, and 11.7 T) are presented. Water relaxation showed a highly significant increase (T1) and decrease (T2) with increasing field strength for all nine analyzed brain structures. Similar but less pronounced effects were observed for all metabolites. Macromolecules displayed field-independent T2 relaxation and a strong increase of T1 with field strength. Among other features, these data show that while spectral resolution continues to increase with field strength, the absolute signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in T1/T2-based anatomical MRI quickly levels off beyond approximately 7 T and may actually decrease at higher magnetic fields.     

Comparison of T(1) and T(2) metabolite relaxation times in glioma and normal brain at 3T

PURPOSE: To measure T(1) and T(2) relaxation times of metabolites in glioma patients at 3T and to investigate how these values influence the observed metabolite levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 23 patients with gliomas and 10 volunteers were studied with single-voxel two-dimensional (2D) J-resolved point-resolved spectral selection (PRESS) using a 3T MR scanner. Voxels were chosen in normal appearing white matter (WM) and in regions of tumor. The T(1) and T(2) of choline containing compounds (Cho), creatine (Cr), and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) were estimated. RESULTS: Metabolite T(1) relaxation values in gliomas were not significantly different from values in normal WM. The T(2) of Cho and Cr were statistically significantly longer for grade 4 gliomas than for normal WM but the T(2) of NAA was similar. These differences were large enough to impact the corrections of metabolite levels for relaxation times with tumor grade in terms of metabolite ratios (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The differential increase in T(2) for Cho and Cr relative to NAA means that the ratios of Cho/NAA and Cr/NAA are higher in tumor at longer echo times (TEs) relative to values in normal appearing brain. Having this information may be useful in defining the acquisition parameters for optimizing contrast between tumor and normal tissue in MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) data, in which limited time is available and only one TE can be used.     

Investigation of apparent diffusion constant as an indicator of early degenerative disease in articular cartilage

PURPOSE: To investigate the apparent diffusion constant (ADC) as a prospective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker of early degeneration in articular cartilage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Early degenerative changes were studied using in vitro MRI on cartilage-bone specimens excised from human femoral condyles. The loss of proteoglycans developed in vivo due to a degenerative process was compared with a gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate anion (Gd-DTPA(2-)) enhanced decrease of T(1) relaxation times, and with an increase of ADCs and T(2) relaxation times. RESULTS: Contrast enhanced T(1) values decreased and the diffusion constants increased in cartilage regions with depleted proteoglycans. The relative changes in diffusion constants were smaller than those of Gd-DTPA(2-) enhanced T(1), and in some proteoglycan-depleted regions no changes in the diffusion constants were detected. T(2) relaxation times showed considerable spatial variability that did not correlate with proteoglycan concentration. CONCLUSION: In contrast to Gd-DTPA(2-) enhanced T(1), which reflects changes in chemical composition, diffusion constants may reflect structural degradation of the cartilage matrix.     

Relationship between contrast enhancement on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR sequences and signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images: visual evaluation of brain tumors

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the degree of contrast enhancement in fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences and tumor signal intensity on T2-weighted images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 96 patients suspected of having brain tumors were examined by MR imaging, and whenever a brain tumor with an enhancing part larger than the slice thickness was demonstrated on postcontrast T1-weighted images, postcontrast FLAIR images were additionally acquired. The tumor signal intensity on the T2-weighted images was visually classified as follows: equal or lower compared with normal cerebral cortex (group 1), higher than normal cortex (group 2), and as high as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (group 3). When a lesion contained several parts with different signal intensities on T2-weighted images, we assessed each part separately. In each group, we visually compared pre- and postcontrast FLAIR images and assessed whether tumor contrast enhancement was present. When contrast enhancement was present on FLAIR sequence, the degree of contrast enhancement in T1-weighted and FLAIR sequences was visually compared. RESULTS: Postcontrast T1-weighted images showed 46 enhancing lesions, including 48 parts, in 31 MR examinations. FLAIR images of the lesion-parts in group 1 (N=18) did not show significant contrast enhancement. In group 2 (N=12), all the parts were enhanced in FLAIR sequences, and three parts were enhanced more clearly in the FLAIR sequences than in the T1-weighted sequences. In group 3 (N=18), all the parts were enhanced equally or more clearly in the FLAIR sequences than in the T1-weighted sequences. CONCLUSION: The signal intensity in FLAIR sequences is largely influenced by both T1 and T2 relaxation time; there is a close relationship between the signal intensity of brain tumors on T2-weighted images and the degree of contrast enhancement on FLAIR sequences. When tumors have higher signal intensity than normal cortex on T2-weighted images, additional postcontrast FLAIR imaging may improve their depiction.     

磁共振扩散加权成像在眼眶良恶性肿瘤鉴别中的应用

目的 探讨磁共振扩散加权成像(DWI)及表观扩散系数(ADC)在眼眶良恶性肿瘤鉴别诊断中的价值.方法 回顾性分析40例(良性组∶恶性组=25∶15)眼眶肿瘤病例的DWI及ADC图像,分析其DWI及ADC图像信号特点.逐层勾画肿瘤边界以获得整体感兴趣区(ROD,得到肿瘤平均ADC值(ADCM).眼眶良恶性肿瘤的信号特点比较采用Fisher精确检验,2组间ADCM值比较采用独立样本t检验.炎性假瘤及淋巴瘤的ADCM值比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验.采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)法分析AIDCM值对眼眶良恶性肿瘤的鉴别诊断价值.结果 眼眶良恶性肿瘤组间DWI图像信号特点无明显统计学差异(P＞0.05),2组ADC图像信号特点有明显统计学差异(P＜0.05).良性肿瘤的ADCM明显高于恶性肿瘤(P＜0.05),其中炎性假瘤的ADCM明显高于淋巴瘤(P＜0.05).以ADC值≥1.289×10-3 mm2/s判断眼眶肿瘤良恶性,可获得最优的诊断价值[曲线下面积(AUC)0.968;敏感度0.960;特异度0.933].结论 磁共振DWI及ADC值在眼眶肿瘤良恶性鉴别中具有重要价值.     

In vivo measurements of T1 relaxation times in mouse brain associated with different modes of systemic administration of manganese chloride

PURPOSE: To measure regional T1 and T2 values for normal C57Bl/6 mouse brain and changes in T1 after systemic administration of manganese chloride (MnCl2) at 9.4 T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57Bl/6 mice were anesthetized and baseline T1 and T2 measurements obtained prior to measurement of T1 after administration of MnCl2 at 9.4 T. MnCl2 was administered systemically either by the intravenous (IV), intraperitoneal (IP), or subcutaneous (SC) routes. T1 and T2 maps for each MRI transverse slice were generated using commercial software, and T1 and T2 values of white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), pituitary gland, and lateral ventricle were obtained. RESULTS: When compared with baseline values at low-field, significant lengthening of the T1 values was shown at 9.4 T, while no significant change was seen for T2 values. Significant T1 shortening of the normal mouse brain was observed following IV, IP, and SC administration of MnCl2, with IV and IP showing similar acute effects. Significant decreases in T1 values were seen for the pituitary gland and the ventricles 15 minutes after either IV or IP injection. GM showed greater uptake of the contrast agent than WM at 15 and 45 minutes after either IV or IP injections. Although both structures are within the blood-brain barrier (BBB), GM and WM revealed a steady decrease in T1 values at 24 and 72 hours after MnCl2 injection regardless of the route of administration. CONCLUSION: Systemic administration of MnCl2 by IV and IP routes induced similar time-course of T1 changes in different regions of the mouse brain. Acute effects of MnCl2 administration were mainly influenced by either the presence or absence of BBB. SC injection also provided significant T1 change at subacute stage after MnCl2 administration.     

Age dependence of regional proton metabolites T2 relaxation times in the human brain at 3 T

Although recent studies indicate that use of a single global transverse relaxation time, T₂, per metabolite is sufficient for better than ±10% quantification precision at intermediate and short echo‐time spectroscopy in young adults, the age‐dependence of this finding is unknown. Consequently, the age effect on regional brain choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), and N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) T₂s was examined in four age groups using 3D (four slices, 80 voxels 1 cm³ each) proton MR spectroscopy in an optimized two‐point protocol. Metabolite T₂s were estimated in each voxel and in 10 gray and white matter (GM, WM) structures in 20 healthy subjects: four adolescents (13 ± 1 years old), eight young adults (26 ± 1); two middle‐aged (51 ± 6), and six elderly (74 ± 3). The results reveal that T₂s in GM (average ± standard error of the mean) of adolescents (NAA: 301 ± 30, Cr: 162 ± 7, Cho: 263 ± 7 ms), young adults (NAA: 269 ± 7, Cr: 156 ± 7, Cho: 226 ± 9 ms), and elderly (NAA: 259 ± 13, Cr: 154 ± 8, Cho: 229 ± 14 ms), were 30%, 16%, and 10% shorter than in WM, yielding mean global T₂s of NAA: 343, Cr: 172, and Cho: 248 ms. The elderly NAA, Cr, and Cho T₂s were 12%, 6%, and 10% shorter than the adolescents, a change of under 1 ms/year assuming a linear decline with age. Formulae for T₂ age‐correction for higher quantification precision are provided. Magn Reson Med 60:790–795, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.