Christina Messiou1, David J. Collins1, Matthew D. Robson2, Veronica A. Morgan1, Nandita M. deSouza1
1Cancer Research UK Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research Group, Institute of Cancer Research & Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, Surrey, UK; 2OCMR, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of UTE imaging of short T2 components in sclerotic bone metastases. We have optimised UTE MRI of the spine to return signal from short T2 components in sclerotic bone metastases. Careful coil selection and large FOV and matrix size can overcome artefacts from non-linearity of gradients although this can result in a time penalty. UTE has potential for quantitative assessment of sclerotic bone metastases but further measurements between 0.07 and 4.7ms are necessary to optimise TEs and remove effects of long T2 components.