New insights into intrinsic foot muscle morphology and composition using ultra‐high‐field (7-Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Aiman Al-Najjar¹  Mark A. Hoggarth²  James M. Elliott³  Bill Vicenzino³  Paul W. Hodges³  Melinda M. Franettovich Smith³  Natalie J. Collins³  Kenneth A. Weber⁴ 

[1] Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland;Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University;School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland;Systems Neuroscience and Pain Lab, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine;

关键词: Magnetic resonance imaging;    Foot;    Muscle fat infiltration;    Plantar intrinsic muscles;    Foot core;    Morphology;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12891-020-03926-7

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background The intrinsic muscles of the foot are key contributors to foot function and are important to evaluate in lower limb disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provides a non-invasive option to measure muscle morphology and composition, which are primary determinants of muscle function. Ultra-high-field (7-T) magnetic resonance imaging provides sufficient signal to evaluate the morphology of the intrinsic foot muscles, and, when combined with chemical-shift sequences, measures of muscle composition can be obtained. Here we aim to provide a proof-of-concept method for measuring intrinsic foot muscle morphology and composition with high-field MRI. Methods One healthy female (age 39 years, mass 65 kg, height 1.73 m) underwent MRI. A T1-weighted VIBE – radio-frequency spoiled 3D steady state GRE – sequence of the whole foot was acquired on a Siemens 7T MAGNETOM scanner, as well as a 3T MAGNETOM Prisma scanner for comparison. A high-resolution fat/water separation image was also acquired using a 3D 2-point DIXON sequence at 7T. Coronal plane images from 3T and 7T scanners were compared. Using 3D Slicer software, regions of interest were manually contoured for each muscle on 7T images. Muscle volumes and percentage of muscle fat infiltration were calculated (muscle fat infiltration % = Fat/(Fat + Water) x100) for each muscle. Results Compared to the 3T images, the 7T images provided superior resolution, particularly at the forefoot, to facilitate segmentation of individual muscles. Muscle volumes ranged from 1.5 cm3 and 19.8 cm3, and percentage muscle fat infiltration ranged from 9.2–15.0%. Conclusions This proof-of-concept study demonstrates a feasible method of quantifying muscle morphology and composition for individual intrinsic foot muscles using advanced high-field MRI techniques. This method can be used in future studies to better understand intrinsic foot muscle morphology and composition in healthy individuals, as well as those with lower disorders.

【 授权许可】

Unknown