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Gassert FT, Kufner A, Renz M, Gassert FG, Bollwein C, Kronthaler S, Feuerriegel GC, Kirschke JS, Ganter C, Makowski MR, Braun C, Schwaiger BJ, Woertler K, Karampinos DC, Gersing AS. Comparing CT-Like Images Based on Ultra-Short Echo Time and Gradient Echo T1-Weighted MRI Sequences for the Assessment of Vertebral Disorders Using Histology and True CT as the Reference Standard. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 59:1542-1552. [PMID: 37501387 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several magnetic resonance (MR) techniques have been suggested for radiation-free imaging of osseous structures. PURPOSE To compare the diagnostic value of ultra-short echo time and gradient echo T1-weighted MRI for the assessment of vertebral pathologies using histology and computed tomography (CT) as the reference standard. STUDY TYPE Prospective. SUBJECTS Fifty-nine lumbar vertebral bodies harvested from 20 human cadavers (donor age 73 ± 13 years; 9 male). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE Ultra-short echo time sequence optimized for both bone (UTEb) and cartilage (UTEc) imaging and 3D T1-weighted gradient-echo sequence (T1GRE) at 3 T; susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) gradient echo sequence at 1.5 T. CT was performed on a dual-layer dual-energy CT scanner using a routine clinical protocol. ASSESSMENT Histopathology and conventional CT were acquired as standard of reference. Semi-quantitative and quantitative morphological features of degenerative changes of the spines were evaluated by four radiologists independently on CT and MR images independently and blinded to all other information. Features assessed were osteophytes, endplate sclerosis, visualization of cartilaginous endplate, facet joint degeneration, presence of Schmorl's nodes, and vertebral dimensions. Vertebral disorders were assessed by a pathologist on histology. STATISTICAL TESTS Agreement between T1GRE, SWI, UTEc, and UTEb sequences and CT imaging and histology as standard of reference were assessed using Fleiss' κ and intra-class correlation coefficients, respectively. RESULTS For the morphological assessment of osteophytes and endplate sclerosis, the overall agreement between SWI, T1GRE, UTEb, and UTEc with the reference standard (histology combined with CT) was moderate to almost perfect for all readers (osteophytes: SWI, κ range: 0.68-0.76; T1GRE: 0.92-1.00; UTEb: 0.92-1.00; UTEc: 0.77-0.85; sclerosis: SWI, κ range: 0.60-0.70; T1GRE: 0.77-0.82; UTEb: 0.81-0.92; UTEc: 0.61-0.71). For the visualization of the cartilaginous endplate, UTEc showed the overall best agreement with the reference standard (histology) for all readers (κ range: 0.85-0.93). DATA CONCLUSIONS Morphological assessment of vertebral pathologies was feasible and accurate using the MR-based bone imaging sequences compared to CT and histopathology. T1GRE showed the overall best performance for osseous changes and UTEc for the visualization of the cartilaginous endplate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian T Gassert
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Kufner
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Renz
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Felix G Gassert
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christine Bollwein
- Department of Pathology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sophia Kronthaler
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg C Feuerriegel
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan S Kirschke
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Carl Ganter
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcus R Makowski
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Braun
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benedikt J Schwaiger
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Woertler
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Musculoskeletal Radiology Section, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dimitrios C Karampinos
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexandra S Gersing
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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Feuerriegel GC, Ritschl LM, Sollmann N, Palla B, Leonhardt Y, Maier L, Gassert FT, Karampinos DC, Makowski MR, Zimmer C, Wolff KD, Probst M, Fichter AM, Burian E. Imaging of traumatic mandibular fractures in young adults using CT-like MRI: a feasibility study. Clin Oral Investig 2023; 27:1227-1233. [PMID: 36208329 PMCID: PMC9985557 DOI: 10.1007/s00784-022-04736-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess and compare the diagnostic performance of CT-like images based on a three- dimensional (3D) T1-weighted spoiled gradient-echo sequence (3D T1 GRE) with CT in patients with acute traumatic fractures of the mandible. MATERIALS AND METHODS Subjects with acute mandibular fractures diagnosed on conventional CT were prospectively recruited and received an additional 3 T MRI with a CT-like 3D T1 GRE sequence. The images were assessed by two radiologists with regard to fracture localization, degree of dislocation, and number of fragments. Bone to soft tissue contrast, diagnostic confidence, artifacts, and overall image quality were rated using a five-point Likert-scale. Agreement of measurements was assessed using an independent t-test. RESULTS Fourteen subjects and 22 fracture sites were included (26 ± 3.9 years; 4 females, 10 males). All traumatic fractures were accurately detected on CT-like MRI (n = 22, κ 1.00 (95% CI 1.00-1.00)). There was no statistically significant difference in the assessment of the fracture dislocation (axial mean difference (MD) 0.06 mm, p = 0.93, coronal MD, 0.08 mm, p = 0.89 and sagittal MD, 0.04 mm, p = 0.96). The agreement for the fracture classification as well as the inter- and intra-rater agreement was excellent (range κ 0.92-0.98 (95% CI 0.96-0.99)). CONCLUSION Assessment of mandibular fractures was feasible and accurate using CT-like MRI based on a 3D T1 GRE sequence and is comparable to conventional CT. CLINICAL RELEVANCE For the assessment of acute mandibular fractures, CT-like MRI might become a useful alternative to CT in order to reduce radiation exposure particularly in young patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg C Feuerriegel
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Lucas M Ritschl
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nico Sollmann
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Benjamin Palla
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Yannik Leonhardt
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Maier
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian T Gassert
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dimitrios C Karampinos
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcus R Makowski
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Claus Zimmer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus-Dietrich Wolff
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Monika Probst
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas M Fichter
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Egon Burian
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Feuerriegel GC, Kronthaler S, Boehm C, Renz M, Leonhardt Y, Gassert F, Foreman SC, Weiss K, Wurm M, Liebig T, Makowski MR, Schwaiger BJ, Karampinos DC, Gersing AS. Diagnostic value of water-fat-separated images and CT-like susceptibility-weighted images extracted from a single ultrashort echo time sequence for the evaluation of vertebral fractures and degenerative changes of the spine. Eur Radiol 2023; 33:1445-55. [PMID: 35980430 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-09061-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the performance of single-echo Dixon water-fat imaging and computed tomography (CT)-like imaging based on a single ultrashort echo time (sUTE) MR sequence for imaging of vertebral fractures as well as degenerative bone changes of the spine in comparison to conventional CT and MR sequences. METHODS Thirty patients with suspected acute vertebral fractures were examined using a 3-T MRI, including an sUTE sequence as well as short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) and T1-weighted sequences. During postprocessing, water-fat separation was performed by solving the smoothness-constrained inverse water-fat problem based on a single-complex UTE image. By removing the unwanted low-frequency phase terms, additional MR-based susceptibility-weighted-like (SW-like) images with CT-like contrast were created. Two radiologists evaluated semi-quantitative and quantitative features of fractures and degenerative changes independently and separately on CT and MR images. RESULTS In total, all 58 fractures were accurately detected of whom 24 were correctly classified as acute fractures with an edema detected on the water-fat-separated UTE images, using STIR and T1w sequences as standard of reference. For the morphological assessment of fractures and degenerative changes, the overall agreement between SW-like images and CT was substantial to excellent (e.g., Genant: κ 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.54-1.00); AO/Magerl: κ 0.75 (95% confidence interval 0.43-1.00)). Overall inter-reader agreement for water-fat-separated UTE images and SW-like images was substantial to almost perfect. CONCLUSION Detection and assessment of vertebral fractures and degenerative bone changes of the spine were feasible and accurate using water-fat-separated images as well as SW-like images, both derived from the same sUTE-Dixon sequence. KEY POINTS • The detection of acute vertebral fractures was feasible using water-fat-separated images and CT-like images reconstructed from one sUTE sequence. • Assessment of the vertebral fractures using SW-like images with CT-like contrast was found to be comparable to conventional CT. • sUTE imaging of the spine can help reduce examination times and radiation exposure.
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Ma Y, Jang H, Jerban S, Chang EY, Chung CB, Bydder GM, Du J. Making the invisible visible-ultrashort echo time magnetic resonance imaging: Technical developments and applications. Appl Phys Rev 2022; 9:041303. [PMID: 36467869 PMCID: PMC9677812 DOI: 10.1063/5.0086459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a large magnetic field and radio waves to generate images of tissues in the body. Conventional MRI techniques have been developed to image and quantify tissues and fluids with long transverse relaxation times (T2s), such as muscle, cartilage, liver, white matter, gray matter, spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid. However, the body also contains many tissues and tissue components such as the osteochondral junction, menisci, ligaments, tendons, bone, lung parenchyma, and myelin, which have short or ultrashort T2s. After radio frequency excitation, their transverse magnetizations typically decay to zero or near zero before the receiving mode is enabled for spatial encoding with conventional MR imaging. As a result, these tissues appear dark, and their MR properties are inaccessible. However, when ultrashort echo times (UTEs) are used, signals can be detected from these tissues before they decay to zero. This review summarizes recent technical developments in UTE MRI of tissues with short and ultrashort T2 relaxation times. A series of UTE MRI techniques for high-resolution morphological and quantitative imaging of these short-T2 tissues are discussed. Applications of UTE imaging in the musculoskeletal, nervous, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems of the body are included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Ma
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, California 92037, USA
| | - Hyungseok Jang
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, California 92037, USA
| | - Saeed Jerban
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, California 92037, USA
| | | | | | - Graeme M Bydder
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, California 92037, USA
| | - Jiang Du
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.: (858) 246-2248, Fax: (858) 246-2221
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MSK – Simultane Darstellung von Wirbelkörperfrakturen und Ödemen in einer MRT-Sequenz. ROFO-FORTSCHR RONTG 2022; 194:824-5. [DOI: 10.1055/a-1855-6613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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