Assessment of cortical bone with clinical and ultrashort echo time sequences

We describe the use of ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequences and fast spin echo sequences to assess cortical bone using a clinical 3T scanner. Regular two- and three-dimensional UTE sequences were used to image both bound and free water in cortical bone. Adiabatic inversion recovery prepared UTE sequences were used to image water bound to the organic matrix. Two-dimensional fast spin echo sequences were used to image free water. Regular UTE sequences were used together with bicomponent analysis to measure T*2s and relative fractions of bound and free water components in cortical bone. Inversion recovery prepared UTE sequences were used to measure the T*2 of bound water. Saturation recovery UTE sequences were used to measure the T1 of bone water. Eight cadaveric human cortical bone samples and a lower leg specimen were studied. Preliminary results show two distinct components in UTE detected signal decay, a single component in inversion recovery prepared UTE detected signal decay, and a single component in saturation recovery UTE detected signal recovery. Regular UTE sequences appear to depict both bound and free water in cortical bone. Inversion recovery prepared UTE sequences appear to depict water bound to the organic matrix. Two-dimensional fast spin echo sequences appear to depict bone structure corresponding to free water in large pores.