Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 358, Issue 9293, 10 November 2001, Pages 1610-1611
The Lancet

Research Letters
Magnetic resonance: magic angle imaging of the Achilles tendon

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06661-2Get rights and content

Summary

Tendons do not normally produce detectable signals with conventional magnetic-resonance techniques and are recognised as dark signal voids. However, if tendons are examined at 55° to the static magnetic field (the “magic angle”), signals become detectable and the tendons can become the brightest structure on the image. We have used this approach to establish tendon relaxation times and magnetisation transfer ratios and to show contrast enhancement. We have also shown more detail of acute and chronic tendon rupture by this method compared with images made with the tendon parallel to the static magnetic field.

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There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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    As far as we know, quantitative evaluation of magic angle and bulk susceptibility effects in the Achilles tendon and enthesis of whole ankle specimens or volunteers/patients have never been previously investigated using a clinical whole-body scanner. Ultrashort TE (UTE) pulse sequences with TEs of 100 μs or less can be used for high-resolution imaging of short T2 tissues such as cortical bone, the deep layers of articular cartilage, menisci, ligaments, tendons and entheses [11–21]. The basic UTE acquisition scheme can also be used with an interleaved undersampled multiple TE acquisition scheme for fast spectroscopic imaging of short-T2 tissues [18,19].

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    Magic angle effects and UTE imaging may be synergistic in increasing contrast in enthesis fibrocartilage. The available signal produced by the magic angle effect may make it possible to assess magnetization transfer effects56 and assess perfusion using conventional pulse sequences.13 The technique has also been used to measure T1 and assess contrast enhancement.56,58

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