Advanced Noncontrast MR Imaging in Musculoskeletal Radiology

Abstract

Multiple nonmorphologic magnetic resonance sequences are available in musculoskeletal imaging that can provide additional information to better characterize and diagnose musculoskeletal disorders and diseases. These sequences include blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD), arterial spin labeling (ASL), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI). BOLD and ASL provide different methods to evaluate skeletal muscle microperfusion. The BOLD signal reflects the ratio between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin. ASL uses selective tagging of inflowing blood spins in a specific region for calculating local perfusion. DWI and DTI provide information about the structural integrity of soft tissue including muscles and fibers as well as pathologies.

Keywords: Arterial spin labeling; Blood-oxygen-level-dependent MR imaging; Diffusion-tensor imaging; Diffusion-weighted imaging; Peripheral arterial occlusive disease; Skeletal muscle; Soft-tissue and bone tumors.