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Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine

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01-02-2003 | Research article

Subchondral bone and cartilage thickness from MRI: effects of chemical-shift artifact

Authors: Chris A. McGibbon, Jenny Bencardino, William E. Palmer

Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine | Issue 1/2003

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice for visualizing and quantifying articular cartilage thickness. However, difficulties persist in MRI of subchondral bone using spoiled gradient-echo (SPGR) and other gradient-echo sequences, primarily due to the effects of chemical-shift artifact. Fat-suppression techniques are often used to reduce these artifacts, but they prevent measurement of bone thickness. In this report, we assess the magnitude of chemical-shift effects (phase-cancellation and misregistration artifacts) on subchondral bone and cartilage thickness measurements in human femoral heads using a variety of pulse sequence parameters. Phase-cancellation effects were quantified by comparing measurements from in-phase images (TE=13.5 ms) to out-of-phase images (TE=15.8 ms). We also tested the assumption of the optimal in-phase TE by comparing thickness measures at small variations on TE (13.0, 13.5 and 14.0 ms). Misregistration effects were quantified by comparing measurements from water+fat images (water-only+fat-only images) to the measurements from in-phase (TE=13.5) images. A correction algorithm was developed and applied to the in-phase measurements and then compared to measurements from water+fat images. We also compared thickness measurements at different image resolutions. Results showed that both phase-cancellation artifact and misregistration artifact were significant for bone thickness measurement, but not for cartilage thickness measurement. Using an in-phase TE and correction algorithm for misregistration artifact, the errors in bone thickness relative to water+fat images were non-significant. This information may be useful for developing pulse sequences for optimal imaging of both cartilage and subchondral bone.

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Title: Subchondral bone and cartilage thickness from MRI: effects of chemical-shift artifact
Authors: Chris A. McGibbon
Jenny Bencardino
William E. Palmer
Publication date: 01-02-2003
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine / Issue 1/2003
Print ISSN: 0968-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1352-8661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-003-0001-0

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Subchondral bone and cartilage thickness from MRI: effects of chemical-shift artifact

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