Fast measurement of the quadriceps femoris muscle transverse relaxation time at high magnetic field using segmented echo‐planar imaging. Issue 2 (5th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fouré, Alexandre; Duhamel, Guillaume; Vilmen, Christophe; Bendahan, David; Jubeau, Marc; Gondin, Julien
• Is Part Of: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging. Volume 45:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 356
• Page End: 368
• Publication Date: 2016-07-05
• Subjects: MRI -- exercise -- spin‐echo sequence -- T2 -- skeletal muscle; Magnetic resonance imaging -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.25355
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-1807

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To assess and validate a technique for transverse relaxation time ( T 2 ) measurements of resting and recovering skeletal muscle following exercise with a high temporal resolution and large volume coverage using segmented spin‐echo echo‐planar imaging (sSE‐EPI). Materials and Methods: Experiments were performed on a 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner using a multislice sSE‐EPI technique applied at different echo times (TEs). T 2 measurements were first validated in vitro in calibrated T 2 phantoms (range: 25–152 ms) by comparing sSE‐EPI, standard spin‐echo (SE), and multislice multiecho (MSME) techniques (using a fitting procedure or a 2‐TEs calculation). In vivo measurements of resting T 2 quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle were performed with both sSE‐EPI and MSME sequences. Finally, sSE‐EPI was used to quantify T 2 changes in recovering muscle after an exercise. Results: T 2 values measured in vitro with sSE‐EPI were similar to those assessed with SE ( P > 0.05). In vitro and in vivo T 2 measurements obtained with sSE‐EPI were independent of the T 2 determination procedure ( P > 0.05). In contrast, both in vitro and in vivo T 2 values derived from MSME were significantly different when using 2‐TEs calculation as compared to the fitting procedure ( P < 0.05). sSE‐EPI allowed the detection of increased T 2 values in the QF muscle immediately after exercise (+14 ± 9%), while lower T 2 values were recorded less than 2 min afterwards ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: sSE‐EPI sequence is a relevant method to monitor exercise‐induced T 2 changes of skeletal muscles over large volume coverage and to detect abnormal patterns of muscle activation. Level of Evidence: 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:356–368.