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Water molecules associated with collagen have short transverse (T2) relaxation times. Projection-reconstruction techniques are able to achieve an echo time (TE) much shorter than conventional techniques, allowing imaging of tissues with T2 < 5 ms. Using these techniques, a conventional 1.5-T MRI human imaging system can directly image collagen-associated water from knee menisci and tendons in normal volunteers and patients. Long-T2 suppression improves the contrast between these structures and the surrounding tissue with long-T2 relaxation times. Spectroscopic imaging provides improved lipid/water registration and information about chemical composition and relaxation times. Direct imaging of tendons and menisci may provide more information about these structures and provide a new way to assess both injury and repair.
Gold et al. (Wed,) studied this question.