Jing Yuan1, Yi-Xiang Wang1, James
F. Griffith1
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology and
Organ Imaging, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories,
Hong Kong
Quantitative
T1rho imaging is a non-invasive MRI technique that has been shown to be
sensitive to interactions between motionally restricted water molecules and
their surrounding macromolecular environment.
It should potentially be a clinical tool in identifying early
interverterbral disc (IVD) degeneration. In this study, a spin-lock 3D
balanced fast field echo imaging was developed for rapid in vivo IVD T1rho
relaxation mapping at 3T. A significant reduction of T1rho relaxation was
found to be an indication of early IVD degeneration.