Investigative radiology
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Investigative radiology · Jun 1995
Comparative StudyCalcification can shorten T2, but not T1, at magnetic resonance imaging fields. Results of a relaxometry study of calcified human meningiomas.
Water content and water-proton relaxation rates are reported for fresh, histologically characterized, surgical specimens of calcified human intracranial meningiomas and compared with results for noncalcified meningiomas from an earlier study and with calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) suspensions to elucidate the influence of calcification on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity of calcified meningiomas. ⋯ For mild calcification, MRI signal voids result from an increased high-field 1/T2; for heavier calcification, reduced proton density (from excluded water) becomes of increasing importance. Cellular CaHA appears to brighten the signal in T1-weighted MRI in the presence of hemorrhage.