Ramon Van der Werf1, Gerben M. Van Buul1, Henk Smit1, Gavin C. Houston2, Gabriel P. Krestin1, Stefan Klein3, Gerjo J.V.M. Van Osch4, Monique R. Bernsen1, Gyula Kotek1
1Radiology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Zuid Holland, Netherlands; 2General Electric Healthcare, Hoevelaken, Gelderland, Netherlands; 3Medical Informatics, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Zuid Holland, Netherlands; 4Orthopaedia, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Zuid Holland, Netherlands
Tracking of stem cells is highly desirable to obtain insight into mechanisms of stem cell based therapies. In the region of the knee, tracking of SPIO labeled cells is hampered by low hydrogen spin density. We show a voxel-based R2* mapping method to visualize a single voxel broad layer of stem cells attached to several structures in knee joints (voxelsize: 26 x 26 x 500 μm3) that are not detectable by looking at signal voids employing conventional MR methods.