Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Skin Using Short and Ultrashort Echo Time Pulse Sequences

Jiang Du¹, Michael Carl², Nikolaus M. Szeverenyi¹, Graeme M. Bydder¹

MRI of the skin was performed with short and ultrashort TE pulse sequences using a clinical 3T system. Studies were performed in tissue samples, cadavers and human subjects. The stratum lucidum and fiber structure in the stratum papillare, stratum reticular and hypodermis were demonstrated. These showed obvious magic angle effects. Sebaceous, ecrine and apocrine glands were shown together with the arrector pili muscle. Signal was detectable in the nail. Planes parallel to the surface of the skin were particularly useful. Short T2 tissues of the skin can be well demonstrated with short and ultrashort TE sequences.