Identification and characterization of biological tissues by NMR. Concerted research project of the European Economic...

NMR offers, in the complex proton relaxation properties of biological tissues, a unique and potentially powerful tool of tissue characterization. The difficulties encountered so far in comparing the results of in vitro and in vivo NMR studies carried out in different laboratories inhibit NMR methodologies from fully expressing their content of physiopathological information, as well as their potential for therapeutic monitoring. Moreover, obtaining accurate data on proton relaxation in vivo requires accurate location of the anatomical region under study. The acquisition of acceptable information about location and effects is dependent on the establishment of agreed procedures for tests, as well as on the use of appropriate test objects and test substances. A concerted research project entitled "Identification and Characterization of Biological Tissues by NMR" was activated in 1984 by the European Economic Community as part of the Third Medical Research Program, under the auspices of the Biomedical Engineering Concerted Action Committee. A series of papers is presented here which illustrates objectives and scientific programs of this project, the protocols adopted for multi-center comparison of in vitro and in vivo studies, and the results of validating trials, as well as problems of reference substances.