Abstract
In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the signal intensity depends indirectly on particular physical and chemical characteristics of the tissues being imaged. These tissue properties influence the behavior of the nuclei undergoing resonance and their behavior is what directly affects the MRI signal. The parameters of interest that describe this behavior are the relaxation times Tl and T2, the spin density [for hydrogen, N(H)], and the microscopic (diffusion) and macroscopic (flow, motion) motional states of the nuclei. As has often been repeated, different imaging techniques result in different responses to these magnetic resonance (MR) parameters. Early speculation suggested that the MR parameters, in particular the relaxation times, would provide very specific diagnostic information on the state of tissue within the body. In fact the results in this area have been disappointing. While MRI has been extremely sensitive to disease within the body’s soft tissue, the specificity is much poorer. It is often difficult to make specific comments on the character of the lesion based on the MR data alone. Yet when properly used, the MR parameters can provide valuable information.
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© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Ortendahl, D.A., Hylton, N.M., Kaufman, L. (1990). Tissue Characterization with MRI: The Value of the MR Parameters. In: Higer, H.P., Bielke, G. (eds) Tissue Characterization in MR Imaging. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74993-3_20
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74993-3_20
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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