Initial T1 Measurements of the Human Achilles Tendon Using UTE Imaging at 3 T

Peter Jonathan Wright¹, Richard Hodgson², Robert Evans¹, Carole Burnett¹, Matthew Robson³

Conventional MRI of the Achilles tendon is limited by its short T₂. UTE imaging allows the tissues to be directly visualised, allowing quantification of tendon MR properties. In this study the feasibility of T₁ measurement using UTE saturation-recovery imaging was investigated. A UTE saturation-recovery sequence was implemented with clinically acceptable acquisition times and validated against phantoms. It was tested in the ankle of 6 healthy volunteers. Results for fat were comparable with known in vivo values while those for the Achilles tendon were higher than reported post mortem values. This technique may be useful for quantifying Achilles tendonopathy.