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Updated: Nov 15, 2025
Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Skeletal Muscle Disease
Published on: December 18, 2016
Susceptibility Weighted Imaging for evaluation of musculoskeletal lesions
Teodoro Martín-Noguerol1, Paula Montesinos2, Oscar L Casado-Verdugo3
1MRI Unit, Radiology Department, HT Medica, Carmelo Torres nº2, Jaén, 23007, Spain.
Abstract:
The presence of blood or calcium in the musculoskeletal (MSK) system may be linked to specific pathological conditions. The ability of MRI for calcium detection is usually limited compared with other techniques such as CT. In a similar manner, the accuracy of MRI for detection and evaluation of hemorrhage in soft tissues is closely linked to the degree of degradation of blood products. Blood and calcium are substances that cause local inhomogeneity of the magnetic field resulting in susceptibility artifacts. To try to evaluate these substances, specific MRI sequences which are highly sensitive to these local magnetic field inhomogeneities such as Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) have been developed and successfully applied in the Central Nervous System, but scarcely used in MSK. SWI may increase the overall sensitivity of MRI to detect blood and calcium in several clinical scenarios such as degenerative joint disease or bone and soft tissue lesion assessment and discriminate between both compounds, something which is not always possible with conventional MRI approaches. In this paper, physical basis and technical adjustment for SWI acquisition at MSK are detailed reviewing the potential application of SWI in different MSK clinical scenarios.
Insights
Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) shows promise for detecting blood and calcium in musculoskeletal conditions. This MRI technique may improve diagnostic accuracy for various MSK pathologies.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Musculoskeletal Imaging
Background:
- Blood and calcium in the musculoskeletal (MSK) system are indicators of pathological conditions.
- Conventional MRI has limitations in detecting calcium and evaluating hemorrhage, especially with degraded blood products.
- Blood and calcium induce magnetic field inhomogeneities, causing susceptibility artifacts on MRI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the application of Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) in the musculoskeletal system.
- To detail the physical basis and technical adjustments for MSK SWI acquisition.
- To review the potential clinical applications of SWI in MSK imaging.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI), an MRI sequence sensitive to magnetic field inhomogeneities.
- Adapting SWI techniques for musculoskeletal imaging.
- Reviewing existing literature and potential clinical scenarios for SWI in MSK.
Main Results:
- SWI demonstrates potential for enhanced detection of blood and calcium in MSK tissues.
- SWI may improve sensitivity compared to conventional MRI sequences for these substances.
- SWI could potentially differentiate between blood and calcium, which is challenging with standard MRI.
Conclusions:
- SWI is a promising technique for MSK imaging, offering improved detection of blood and calcium.
- Further application of SWI in MSK could enhance diagnostic capabilities for degenerative joint disease and bone/soft tissue lesions.
- SWI may become a valuable tool for evaluating various MSK pathologies.
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