Short-TE projection reconstruction NMR microscopy of trabecular bone

The aim of this study was to assess the potential of projection reconstruct ion (PR) NMR microscopy in the quantitative evaluation of trabecular bone a rchitecture. Short-TE PR spin-echo microimages were acquired at 7.05 T on n ormal bone explants. The main structural parameters such as bone volume fra ction (BVF), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th,) and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp .) were obtained from the 3D microimages using the method of directed secan ts. Quantitative structural data were then compared with those derived from conventional spin-echo microimages. Our study indicates that projection re construction NMR microscopy promises to be more accurate than the conventio nal FTI method in the analysis of trabecular bone.