Correlations between elastic modulus and ultrashort echo time (UTE) adiabatic T1ρ relaxation time (UTE-Adiab-T1ρ) in Achilles tendons and entheses

Saeed Jerban; Amir Masoud Afsahi; Yajun Ma; Dina Moazamian; Sheronda Statum; Alecio F Lombardi; Lena Kakos; Erik Dorthe; Daryll Dlima; Jiang Du; Christine B Chung; Eric Y Chang

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111825

Correlations between elastic modulus and ultrashort echo time (UTE) adiabatic T1ρ relaxation time (UTE-Adiab-T1ρ) in Achilles tendons and entheses

J Biomech. 2023 Nov:160:111825. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111825. Epub 2023 Oct 4.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: sjerban@health.ucsd.edu.
² Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
³ Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
⁴ Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education at Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: eric.chang2@va.gov.

Abstract

Patients with psoriatic arthritis commonly have abnormalities of their entheses, which are the connections between tendons and bone. There are shortcomings with the use of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences for the evaluation of entheses and tendons, whereas ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequences are superior for the detection of high signals, and can also be used for non-invasive quantitative assessments of these structures. The combination of UTE-MRI with an adiabatic-T_1ρ preparation (UTE-Adiab-T_1ρ) allows for reliable assessment of entheses and tendons with decreased susceptibility to detrimental magic angle effects. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between quantitative UTE-MRI measures and the biomechanical properties of Achilles tendons and entheses. In total, 28 tendon-enthesis sections were harvested from 11 fresh-frozen human cadaveric foot-ankle specimens (52 ± years old). Tendon-enthesis sections were scanned using the UTE-Adiab-T_1ρ and UTE-T₁ sequences on a clinical 3 T scanner. MRI-based measures and indentation tests were performed on the enthesis, transitional, and tensile tendon zones of the specimens. Hayes' elastic modulus showed significant inverse correlations (Spearman's) with UTE-Adiab-T1ρ in all zones (R= - 0.46, - 0.54, and - 0.61 in enthesis, transition, and tensile tendon zones, respectively). Oliver-Pharr's elastic modulus showed significant inverse correlations with UTE-Adiab-T1ρ in transition (R= - 0.52) and tensile tendon zone (R=- 0.60). UTE-T₁ did not show significant correlations with the elastic modulus. UTE-MRI and elastic modulus were significantly lower in the tensile tendon compared with the enthesis regions This study highlights the potential of the UTE-Adiab-T_1ρ technique for the non-invasive evaluation of tendons and enthuses.

Keywords: Achilles tendon; Enthesis; MRI; Mechanical properties; Ultrashort echo time.

MeSH terms

Achilles Tendon* / diagnostic imaging
Achilles Tendon* / physiology
Adult
Arthritis, Psoriatic / diagnostic imaging
Arthritis, Psoriatic / physiopathology
Biomechanical Phenomena
Elastic Modulus*
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
Male
Middle Aged

Abstract

MeSH terms

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