Wavelet-based characterization of vertebral trabecular bone structure from magnetic resonance images at 3 T compared with micro-computed tomographic measurements

Trabecular bone structure and bone density contribute to the strength of bone and are important in the study of osteoporosis. Wavelets are a powerful tool in characterizing and quantifying texture in an image. The purpose of this study was to validate wavelets as a tool in computing trabecular bone thickness directly from gray-level images. To this end, eight cylindrical cores of vertebral trabecular bone were imaged using 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and micro-computed tomography (microCT). Thickness measurements of the trabecular bone from the wavelet-based analysis were compared with standard 2D structural parameters analogous to bone histomorphometry (MR images) and direct 3D distance transformation methods (microCT images). Additionally, bone volume fraction was determined using each method. The average difference in trabecular thickness between the wavelet and standard methods was less than the size of 1 pixel size for both MRI and microCT analysis. A correlation (R) of .94 for microCT measurements and that of .52 for MRI were found for the bone volume fraction. Based on these results, we conclude that wavelet-based methods deliver results comparable with those from established MR histomorphometric measurements. Because the wavelet transform is more robust with respect to image noise and operates directly on gray-level images, it could be a powerful tool for computing structural bone parameters from MR images acquired using high resolution and thus limited signal scenarios.     

Relationship between cancellous bone induced magnetic field and ultrastructure in a rat ovariectomy model

The site-dependent variations in trabecular bone morphology were studied in the rat tibia by magnitude and phase difference three-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance microscopy and image processing, and the implications of ovariectomy were evaluated. Specimens excised from the proximal tibial metaphysis in ovariectomized (n = 7) and intact control (n = 4) rats were imaged at 9.4T with their anatomic axes parallel to the direction of the magnetic field. An echo-offset 3D rapid spin-echo excitation pulse sequence was used to generate phase difference maps, from which the standard deviation of the phase difference, sigma(delta psi), was calculated. In addition, a fictitious rate constant, R2', was calculated from the slope of the exponential portion of the Fourier transform of the phase difference histogram. Trabecular bone volume fraction was also determined in the same volume of interest. The results show strong correlations between bone volume fraction and both sigma(delta psi) and R2', suggesting that these parameters could be useful for nondestructive assessment of trabecular bone volume.     

Characterization of trabecular bone structure from high-resolution magnetic resonance images using fuzzy logic

The purpose of this work was to apply fuzzy logic image processing techniques to characterize the trabecular bone structure with high-resolution magnetic resonance images. Fifteen ex vivo high-resolution magnetic resonance images of specimens of human radii at 1.5 T and 12 in vivo high-resolution magnetic resonance images of the calcanei of peri- and postmenopausal women at 3 T were obtained. Soft segmentation using fuzzy clustering was applied to MR data to obtain fuzzy bone volume fraction maps, which were then analyzed with three-dimensional (3D) fuzzy geometrical parameters and measures of fuzziness. Geometrical parameters included fuzzy perimeter and fuzzy compactness, while measures of fuzziness included linear index of fuzziness, quadratic index of fuzziness, logarithmic fuzzy entropy, and exponential fuzzy entropy. Fuzzy parameters were validated at 1.5 T with 3D structural parameters computed from microcomputed tomography images, which allow the observation of true trabecular bone structure and with apparent MR structural indexes at 1.5 T and 3 T. The validation was statistically performed with the Pearson correlation coefficient as well as with the Bland-Altman method. Bone volume fraction correlation values (r) were up to .99 (P<.001) with good agreements based on Bland-Altman analysis showing that fuzzy clustering is a valid technique to quantify this parameter. Measures of fuzziness also showed consistent correlations to trabecular number parameters (r>.85; P<.001) and good agreements based on Bland-Altman analysis, suggesting that the level of fuzziness in high-resolution magnetic resonance images could be related to the trabecular bone structure.     

MR phase imaging to quantify bone volume fraction: computer simulations and in vivo measurements

Magnetic resonance phase images can be used to assess trabecular bone by measuring the standard deviation of the phases in a region of interest. The standard deviation of regional phase measurements reflects the degree of magnetic field inhomogeneity caused by susceptibility differences between bone and marrow. A 3D computer model of trabecular bone was developed and then used to explore the influence of bone volume fraction and imaging parameters such as pixel size and slice width on the standard deviation of regional phase measurements. The results from these tests show that with appropriate selection of these parameters, phase spread strongly reflects variations in trabecular bone density (a correlation of R(2) = 0.98 with bone volume fraction between 0 and 10%). The technique was then applied in vivo on the radius of 25 patients who already had a bone density scan with peripheral quantitative tomography and a correlation between phase standard deviation and trabecular bone density was found (R(2) = 0.46).     

On the measurement of multi-component T2 relaxation in cartilage by MR spectroscopy and imaging

The multicomponent T₂ relaxation in bovine nasal cartilage (BNC) was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence and microscopic magnetic resonance imaging (μMRI) method using a CPMG-SE imaging sequence. All experimental data were analyzed by the non-negative least square (NNLS) procedure. Only one T₂ component was found in BNC by both experimental methods (about 113 and 170 ms before and after being enzymatically digested by trypsin). Several experimental and specimen-related factors were investigated in this study, and it was found that some of them could produce artificial multi-component T₂, including the use of the standard MSME imaging sequence at certain imaging gradients.     

Investigations and Modeling of the Effect of Magnetic Nanoparticles on MR Image Contrast

The investigations of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation of protons in aqueous solution and 2% agar–agar gel in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles were performed. To identify the effect of magnetic nanoparticles on the contrast of magnetic resonance images, the dependences of the MR signal intensity on the parameters of the two pulse radio-frequency (RF) sequences (spin-echo, gradient-echo) most commonly used in MRI for different values of the magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) concentration were simulated and analyzed. Recommendations for choosing the optimal values of pulse RF sequence parameters for MR imaging (MRI) in the presence of MNPs are formulated. MRI studies of phantom samples with 2% agar–agar gel containing MNPs have been performed for choosing the fast pulse RF sequence which shows the greatest contrast effect on MR images. A program for modeling magnetic resonance tomograms and determination of optimal values of pulse RF sequence parameters to achieve the best contrast of magnetic resonance images is developed. This program allows to reduce the time of MRI studies, to assess the possibility of using MNPs for contrast of MR images and to simulate the MR image in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles at the planning stage of procedures in MR-guided theranostics.     

R'2 measured in trabecular bone in vitro: relationship to trabecular separation.

Measurement of key parameters of the microstructure of trabecular bone is critical to the study of osteoporosis and bone strength. Density based methods cannot provide this information, and give only the total amount of bone present, and not its arrangement. Magnetic resonance imaging has shown the potential to provide information related to the microarchitecture of the trabecular bone matrix. Twelve samples (8 x 8 x 8 mm3 bone cubes) were cut from sheep vertebrae such that the trabeculae ran either parallel or perpendicular to each face. Detailed measurements of the structure of these bone cubes were made by histomorphometry, and compared to R'2 and R*2 measured with a spin and gradient-echo sequence, Partially Refocused Interleaved Multiple Echo, at 1.5 Tesla. The precision of the R'2 measurement (% coefficient of variation) was 8.7+/-5.1, and 7.7+/-4.3 for R*2. Uncorrected values of R'2 and R*2 were significantly correlated to density measured by quantitative computed tomography (r = 0.87, p = 0.0005, and r = 0.90, p = 0.0002, respectively), and trabecular bone area measured by histomorphometry (r = 0.80, p = 0.002, and r = 0.83, p = 0.0008, respectively). Density correction was effected by imaging the same slice of bone in two orientations (90 degrees and 0 degrees ) to the main magnetic field. For both R'2 and R*2 there was a significant difference between measurements in the 90 degrees and 0 degrees orientations (p < 0.01). The difference between the two values was used, and termed R'2net or R*2net. The net parameters were independent of bone mass. R'2net and R*2net were significantly correlated to trabecular separation (p < 0.05) with r = -0.58 and r = -0.62, respectively. These results demonstrate the ability of magnetic resonance imaging to characterize a key measure of the trabecular microstucture. An increase in trabecular separation has important biomechanical consequences in osteoporosis. This result also strengthens the hypothesis that the sensitivity of R'2 to osteoporosis-related bone changes is due to magnetic susceptibility effects in which rapid transitions between bone and marrow create local magnetic field inhomogeneities that result in an increase in R'2 values.     

Experimental evaluation of a surface charge method for computing the induced magnetic field in trabecular bone.

The magnetic field induced in the pores of trabecular bone as a result of the susceptibility difference between bone and bone marrow was computed with the aid of magnetic surface charge models generated from images of trabecular bone specimens acquired at 78 and 63 microm resolution. The predicted field was compared with the values derived from 2D and 3D field maps obtained by echo-offset imaging techniques and excellent agreement was found between the two methods. Finally, from the slopes of regression between the experimental and computed fields, the absolute susceptibility of bone was nondestructively determined as -11.0 x 10(-6) (MKS), which is in close agreement with a reported value of -11.3 x 10(-6) obtained with powdered bone by means of a spectroscopic susceptibility matching technique (J. A. Hopkins and F. W. Wehrli, Magn. Reson. Med. 37, 494-500 (1997)).     

Investigation of atherosclerotic plaques with MRI at 3 T using ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide

This study aims to investigate the uptake of the experimental ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIO) contrast agent DDM43/34 (Schering AG, Berlin, Germany) by aortic atherosclerotic plaques using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T. Six Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits were injected with USPIO at doses of 0.1–1.0 mmol/kg Fe. Parasagittal magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) scans were acquired using 3D gradient-echo sequences before and after USPIO administration, then again after 6 h, 1 day, 2 days and 5 days. At later time points, when the USPIO concentration was too low to enhance blood signal, additional MRA scans were acquired during the infusion of gadopentate dimeglumine (Magnevist; Schering AG). In the images, widespread susceptibility artifacts demonstrated readily detectable USPIO uptake in the liver, bone marrow and lymphatic vessels. Surprisingly, however, no such effects could be associated specifically with the aortic vessel wall, in contrast to previous studies that showed strong uptake with similar pulse sequences. Histological analysis was performed on aortic slices from two animals, demonstrating that aortic plaques were active but showed very little USPIO uptake, consistent with MRI findings. We conclude that, despite the exciting potential of plaque detection using USPIO, some caution is advised since the absence of susceptibility effects does not necessarily imply the absence of plaque, even at 3 T, which offers increased sensitivity to susceptibility. Future work will investigate the dependence of such results on stage of plaque development, magnetic field strength and choice of contrast agent.     

Comparison of high-resolution MRI, optical microscopy and SEM for quantitation of trabecular architecture in the rat femur

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to analyze trabecular bone architecture in femur heads taken from adult Wistar rats. The aim of this study was to validate the use of MRI in assessing trabecular structure and morphology by comparing standard measures of bone morphology in the rat femur obtained from high resolution MRI with those obtained by conventional optical microscopy and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). MR images were obtained on a Bruker 4.7 T micro-imaging system using a three-dimensional spin echo sequence with spatial resolution of 23 microm in-plane and a slice thickness of 39 microm. Optical images were obtained by de-calcifying the bone in EDTA and then sectioning 5-microm-thick slices. SEM images were obtained from bone embedded in epoxy resin with surface preparation by diamond polishing. Values of standard bone morphological parameters were compared and correlation coefficients between the MRI and the optical- and SEM-derived measures of morphology were calculated. Partial volume effects in MRI were minimized in this study by the use of very thin slices, yielding better agreement with optical- and SEM-derived measures of trabecular bone morphology than have been obtained in previous studies. Correlations between the MRI and optical data were significantly lower than those between the MRI and SEM data. Effects of de-calcification were also investigated. The results indicate that comparison of MRI with thin (de-calcified) optical images may be inherently flawed due to the destructive de-calcification and sectioning process used to prepare samples for the optical imaging.     

Ultrasonic pulse waves in cancellous bone analyzed by finite-difference time-domain methods

The trabecular frame of cancellous bone has a high degree of porosity, anisotropy and inhomogeneity. The propagation of ultrasonic waves in cancellous bone is significantly affected by the trabecular structure. In this paper, two two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods, which were the popular viscoelastic FDTD method for a viscoelastic medium and Biot's FDTD method for a fluid-saturated porous medium, have been applied to numerically analyze the ultrasonic pulse waves propagating through bovine cancellous bone in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the trabecular alignment. The Biot's fast and slow longitudinal waves, which were identified in previous experiments for the propagation parallel to the trabecular orientation, could be analyzed using Biot's FDTD method rather than the viscoelastic FDTD method. For the single wave propagation in the perpendicular direction, on the other hand, the viscoelastic FDTD result was found to be in more good agreement with the experimental result.     

核磁共振骨皮质成像关键技术研究进展

骨质量尤其是骨皮质质量的评价方法对骨病的诊断和治疗有重要意义. 随着社会快速老龄化, 如何非侵入地获得准确实用的骨质量评价指标已成为医学物理领域亟待解决的热点问题. 目前有多种骨质量评价方法, 其中双能X射线吸收法获得的骨矿密度值是评价骨质量的现行金标准, 但这个参数有明显缺陷, 如不能反映骨皮质中的有机基质、微结构、孔隙度及灌注等情况, 所以不能准确诊断骨质疏松和预测骨折等疾病. 由于骨的磁共振信号衰减极快,所以常规磁共振成像技术不能探测到骨的信号. 近年来随着理论、方法和设备的不断进步, 超短回波磁共振骨成像成为可能. 本文简要介绍超短回波磁共振骨成像的基础物理理论, 结合作者所在实验室的研究工作对各类定性及定量超短回波磁共振骨皮质成像新方法进行综述, 总结各类方法的特点、适用范围及不足, 指出进一步研究的方向、重点及步骤, 对超短回波磁共振成像在骨质量评估方面的理论研究及工程应用具有指导意义. 关键词： 超短回波 核磁共振成像 骨矿物密度 骨皮质     

Short T2 contrast with three-dimensional ultrashort echo time imaging

There is increasing interest in imaging short T2 species which show little or no signal with conventional magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequences. In this paper, we describe the use of three-dimensional ultrashort echo time (3D UTE) sequences with TEs down to 8 μs for imaging of these species. Image contrast was generated with acquisitions using dual echo 3D UTE with echo subtraction, dual echo 3D UTE with rescaled subtraction, long T2 saturation 3D UTE, long T2 saturation dual echo 3D UTE with echo subtraction, single adiabatic inversion recovery 3D UTE, single adiabatic inversion recovery dual echo 3D UTE with echo subtraction and dual adiabatic inversion recovery 3D UTE. The feasibility of using these approaches was demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo imaging of calcified cartilage, aponeuroses, menisci, tendons, ligaments and cortical bone with a 3-T clinical MR scanner. Signal-to-noise ratios and contrast-to-noise ratios were used to compare the techniques.     

Evaluation of the prostate by magnetic resonance imaging

Forty-seven male patients with suspected prostatic disease underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvis on a Picker resistive magnet operating at 0.15 T; 33 had histologically proved adenocarcinoma, 12 benign prostatic hypertrophy, 1 a transitional cell carcinoma, and 1 a seminoma. Eleven normal subjects also were included in the study. The study attempted to (1) define the MRI characteristics of the normal prostate, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and prostatic adenocarcinoma, (2) evaluate various pulse sequences in imaging the prostate, and (3) compare MRI findings with clinical, pathologic, and computed tomography results. Various pulse sequences, including inversion recovery and spin-echo with short and long TE and TR, were used. MRI was sensitive in detecting intracapsular and extracapsular prostatic disease. The finding of inhomogeneous signal texture throughout the gland was a sensitive but nonspecific finding for adenocarcinoma. A focal nodule with prolonged T1 and T2 relaxation times was the most specific MRI finding for adenocarcinoma. Extracapsular spread of neoplasm was often demonstrated, and because of its superior soft-tissue contrast ability, MRI was more accurate than computed tomography in delineating extracapsular extension.     

Microimaging of hairless rat skin by magnetic resonance at 900 MHz

Purpose

Quantitative imaging of the rat skin was performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 900 MHz.

Materials and methods

A number of imaging techniques utilized for multiple contrast included magnetization transfer contrast, spin-lattice relaxation constant (T1-weighting), combination of T2-weighting with magnetic field inhomogeneity (T2*-weighting), magnetization transfer weighting and diffusion tensor weighting. These were used to obtain 2D slices and 3D multislice-multiecho images with high magnetic resonance contrast. These 2D and 3D imaging techniques were combined to achieve high-resolution MRI.

Results

Oil–water phantom showed distinct fat-water contrast. The dermis and epidermis, including the stratum corneum remnants, of nude rat skin were distinct due to their proton magnetic resonance as a result of proton interactions with the skin interstitial tissue. Combined details obtained from high-resolution, high-quality ex vivo skin images with different multicontrast characteristics generated better differentiation of skin layers, sublayers and significant correlation (r²=0.4927 for MRI area, r²=0.3068 for histology area; P<.0148) of MR data with co-registered histological areas of the epidermis as well as the hair follicle.

Conclusion

The multiple contrast approach provided a noninvasive ex vivo MRI visualization with semi-quantitative assessment of the major skin structures including the stratum corneum remnants, epidermis, hair, papillary dermis, reticular dermis and hypodermis.     

Unwrapping microcomputed tomographic images for measuring cortical osteolytic lesions in the 5T2 murine model of myeloma treated by bisphosphonate

Multiple myeloma is due to the proliferation of malignant plasma cells which increase the number of osteoclasts leading to trabecular and cortical bone osteolysis. The 5T2MM murine model reproduces the human disease and microcomputed tomography is a precise tool to investigate bone loss. Bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid or pamidronate) are used in preventing osteolysis. However, loss of cortical bone in not possible to quantify by histomorphometry on histological sections or microCT images.Osteolysis was studied in mice grafted with the 5THL subline to see if one drug was more active after 10 weeks. Mice were distributed into 4 groups: control, untreated, treated with pamidronate or with zoledronic acid. The left femurs were embedded undecalcified and sectioned at 7 μm. The right tibias and femurs were analyzed by microCT and trabecular morphometric parameters were obtained. Cortical bone osteolysis was analyzed by developing a new algorithm to unwrap microCT sections of the cortices, allowing measurement of the number of perforations, porosity and mean perforation area.The bisphosphonates had no significant effect on the tumor growth as evidence by the absence of effect on the M-protein level. Cortical perforations were evidenced on histological sections and their number seemed to be reduced by both bisphosphonates. MicroCT was used to quantify the trabecular bone: a bone loss was evidenced in the untreated myeloma group and both bisphosphonates appeared equal to preserve trabecular mass. However, the number and size of cortical perforations cannot be determined on 3D models. Unwrapping microCT images provided flat images allowing a precise determination of cortical perforations. Pamidronate did not reduce the number and size of cortical perforations but significantly reduced porosity. Zoledronic acid appeared significantly superior and considerably reduced all parameters.Unwrapping microCT image is a new method allowing the measurement of cortical perforations in bone malignancies, a parameter that cannot be measured correctly on 2D histological sections.     

Optimization of MRI parameters for the gradient echo method in fluorocarbon research

The problems of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of objects having a very wide spectrum of the nuclear magnetic resonance, where signals from all its lines are difficult to detect, have been investigated. It is proposed to carry out MRI using frequency-selective pulses. A method for setting optimally the pulse parameters and the start time of induction signal detection is described. The calculation results are compared with the MRI data obtained for a fluorocarbon compound.     

核磁共振脉冲序列发生器研究进展

介绍了核磁共振脉冲序列发生器的基本结构和工作原理,从系统集成度、数据传输速率和序列存储容量等方面出发,着重探讨了近年来核磁共振脉冲序列发生器研究的进展情况,分析比较了商用和自主研发的脉冲序列发生器的优点和亟待解决的问题,并针对这些问题提出了基于USB 3.0的模块化脉冲序列发生器设计方案,该方案可以为多收发通道核磁共振成像仪的研制提供参考.     

Kinetics of H→P cross-polarization in human trabecular bone

Bloch-decay and cross-polarization (CP) ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of healthy human trabecular bone were acquired under magic-angle spinning (MAS) at 3 kHz. A single peak at 3.1 ppm was detected. Variable-contact time ¹H → ³¹P CP experiments revealed three signal components growing at various rates. The fast, moderate and slow components were assigned and assessed in P atom % to proton-rich (24%), hydroxyapatite (58%) and proton-deficient (18%) phosphate domains, respectively. Examination of CP kinetics is useful for the chemical characterization of bone tissue.