Fabian Springer1, 2, Ulrich Grosse1, 2, Roland Syha1, 2, Gnter Steidle2, Petros Martirosian2, Fritz Schick2
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Tbingen, Tbingen, Germany; 2Section on Experimental Radiology, University Hospital Tbingen, Tbingen, Germany
Structure and composition of solid-like tissues lead to a fast signal decay causing hardly any signal using conventional MR imaging sequences. We present a newly developed water-selective ultrashort echo time sequence for improved visualization of tendons and ligaments. Water-selective binomial excitation pulses were implemented; imaging parameters were optimised by means of an analytical description of steady-state magnetization and numerical simulations. Tendons and ligaments were exemplarily examined in-vivo and could be clearly delineated with positive contrast compared to surrounding fatty tissue. The presented sequence seems to be a promising approach which is worth being further evaluated in clinical musculoskeletal MRI.