Multiple Parameter Extraction and Skeletal Muscle Characterization from a Standard Multi Spin-Echo Sequence

Noura Azzabou¹, ², Pierre G. Carlier, ²³

To quantify skeletal muscle structural changes by NMR imaging, several sequences are necessary. These sequences can evaluate: T2 relaxation abnormalities, fat fraction and signal heterogeneity, that respectively reflect muscle tissue disorganization, in particular fibrosis. In this work, we used a standard multi spin-echo (MSE) sequence and a multi-exponential model, to derive three relevant parameters that are: muscle water T2s, muscle fat percentage and muscle water T2 heterogeneity. We showed through test on healthy subjects and patient that these parameters are not highly dependent which suggest that they are reflecting different kind of muscle disorganization.