Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Derived Myocardial Strain Assessment Using Feature Tracking
Published on: February 12, 2011
Rotator cuff tendon assessment using magic-angle insensitive 3D ultrashort echo time cones magnetization transfer
Yanchun Zhu1,2, Xin Cheng1,3, Yajun Ma1,4
1Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA.
Background:
Rotator cuff tendons (RCTs) are challenging to image due to the "magic angle effect" and their short T2 .
Purpose:
To assess the degree of magic angle sensitivity of human RCTs and to utilize a 3D ultrashort echo time Cones sequence with magnetization transfer preparation (UTE-Cones-MT) and two-pool quantitative MT modeling with histological correlation. We hypothesized that MT parameters would be less sensitive to the magic angle compared with conventional T2 measurements.
Study Type:
Prospective imaging pathologic correlation.
Specimen:
Twenty cadaveric rotator cuff tendons were imaged at five sample orientations ranging from 0-90° relative to the B0 field.
Field Strength/Sequence:
3T/3D UTE-Cones-MT and Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG).
Assessment:
Two-pool quantitative MT modeling parameters and T2 values were calculated in regions of interest drawn by a medical physicist. Histopathological analysis was performed and mild and severe tendinopathy groups were assigned by a histopathologist and histotechnician.
Statistical Tests:
Coefficients of variations (CVs) were calculated for measures between the different orientations and group means were compared for each measure.
Results:
CVs of T2 and macromolecular fractions between orientations were 26.14 ± 16.82% and 6.18 ± 2.77% (mean ± SD), respectively. T2 measurements at 0°, 27°, 70°, and 90° showed significant differences between the two histological groups (P = 0.004, 0.008, 0.003, and 0.015, respectively), but not at 55° (P = 0.611). Mean T2 value ranges between orientations for the mild and severe tendinopathy groups were 15.27-30.32 msec and 20.81-35.85 msec, respectively, showing overlap despite statistically significant differences (P = 0.003). Macromolecular fractions at all angles showed significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.0001). Mean fraction ranges between orientations for the mild and severe tendinopathy groups were 14.32-17.17% and 10.00-13.75% respectively (P < 0.0001) with no overlap.
Data Conclusion:
Compared with T2 , macromolecular fraction obtained with the 3D UTE-Cones-MT technique is resistant to the magic angle effect and is more sensitive to RCT degeneration.
Level Of Evidence:
1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017.
