Proton magnetic resonance microimaging of human trabecular bone

Proton magnetic resonance (H-1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) images of human trabecular bone were acquired and discussed for two samples with diff erent porosity. Three-dimensional 3D Spin Echo (3D SE) and Multi-Slice Mult i-Echo (MSME) pulse sequences were examined. A very high slice resolution o f (38 mu m)(2) was achieved (MSME). The intensity histograms were found use ful for the characterization of the bone porosity. A spatial distribution o f the spin-spin relaxation time T-2 was monitored with the MSME poise progr am. The work demonstrates the great potential of the proton MRI technique i n the study of the trabecular bone morphology. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.