T1 rho MR imaging characteristics of human anterior tibial and gastrocnemius muscles

Acad Radiol. 1998 Feb;5(2):104-10. doi: 10.1016/s1076-6332(98)80130-x.

Abstract

Rationale and objectives: The authors evaluated the value of T1 rho in relation to T1 and T2 in the characterization of human muscles.

Materials and methods: The authors studied the effect of muscle type (anterior tibial [AT] and gastrocnemius [GC]), sex, and age on 1/T1 and 1/T2 at 0.1 T and on 1/ T1 rho at locking-field B1s (spin-locking radio-frequency magnetic induction field) of 10-160 microT in 38 healthy volunteers. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between muscle and fat was evaluated with different T1-, T2-, and T1 rho-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) sequences.

Results: The 1/T1, 1/T2, and 1/T1 rho were slightly higher in AT than in GC muscles. The 1/T2 and 1/T1 rho of AT muscles showed a sex dependence, whereas no correlation with age was found. The CNR of the T1 rho-weighted images did not markedly differ from that of the T1- and T2-weighted images.

Conclusion: T1 rho is as sensitive as T2 to the composition of muscle, whereas T1 is less sensitive. In MR imaging of normal muscle, T1 rho and T2 provide a relatively similar tissue contrast.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / anatomy & histology
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Artifacts
  • Body Composition
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Leg / anatomy & histology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / anatomy & histology*
  • Sex Factors