Aya Yassin1, Ananth J. Madhuranthakam2, Ivan Pedrosa1, B. Nicolas Bloch1, Atsushi Takahashi3, Neil M. Rofsky1, Robert E. Lenkinski1
1Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; 2Applied Science Laboratory, GE Healthcare, Boston, MA, USA; 3Applied Science Laboratory, GE Healthcare, Menlo Park, CA, USA
Measurement of T1 and T2 of calcium oxalate and hydroxyapatite in vitro was performed using an ultra short echo time (UTE) sequence. The resultant measurements were used as a guide for imaging renal stones in vivo in one patient. An MR imaging protocol relied upon gradient echo images obtained with an ultra-short echo time (TE=0.1msec) and a later echo (TE=6.7msec), from which a difference image was obtained. A kidney stone of high signal intensity was clearly visualized and matched the stone seen on an unenhanced CT examination. This provides the basis for future detailed studies of MRI in renal stones.