DDIF: A Novel Contrast for MRI of Trabecular Bone

Dionyssios Mintzopoulos¹, Jerome L. Ackerman¹, Yi-Qiao Song²

The novel DDIF (Decay due to Diffusion in the Internal Field) method provides a novel imaging contrast for trabecular bone imaging, related to the surface-to-volume ratio of cancellous bones. We studied fresh specimens of varying trabecular structure and porosity under ex vivo conditions closely resembling in vivo physiological conditions. Significant DDIF effect and significant differences between specimens of different trabecular structure were observed. We conclude that the DDIF contrast is feasible despite the reduction of the diffusion constant and of T₁ in such conditions, increasing our confidence that DDIF imaging in vivo may be clinically viable for bone characterization.