Ultra-high-field MRI of postmortem human fetal wrist joints: initial experience

European Radiology Experimental

Original Article

Gustav J. Strijkers¹  Sabine H. Josemans²  Mario Maas³  Anne-Sophie van der Post³  Roelof-Jan Oostra⁴  Yousif Dawood⁴  Maurice J. B. van den Hoff⁴  Miryam C. Obdeijn⁵  Sjoerd R. J. Jens⁶ 

[1] Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Sports and Musculoskeletal Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands;

关键词: Fetus;    Magnetic resonance imaging;    Musculoskeletal system;    Triangular fibrocartilage;    Upper extremity;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s41747-023-00341-0

 received in 2023-01-16, accepted in 2023-03-31,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the feasibility of postmortem ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (UHF-MRI) to study fetal musculoskeletal anatomy and explore the contribution of variation in iodine and formaldehyde (paraformaldehyde, PFA) treatment of tissue.MethodsSeven upper extremities from human fetuses with gestational ages of 19 to 24 weeks were included in this experimental study, approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee. The specimens were treated with various storage (0.2–4% PFA) and staining (Lugol’s solution) protocols and the wrist joint was subsequently imaged with 7.0 T UHF-MRI. Soft-tissue contrast was quantified by determining regions of interest within a chondrified carpal bone (CCB) from the proximal row, the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC), and the pronator quadratus muscle (PQM) and calculating the contrast ratios (CRs) between mean signal intensities of CCB to TFC and CCB to PQM.ResultsUHF-MRI showed excellent soft-tissue contrast in different musculoskeletal tissues. Increasing storage time in 4% PFA, CRs decreased, resulting in a shift from relatively hyperintense to hypointense identification of the CCB. Storage in 0.2% PFA barely influenced the CRs over time. Lugol’s solution caused an increase in CRs and might have even contributed to the inversion of the CRs.ConclusionsUHF-MRI is a feasible technique to image musculoskeletal structures in fetal upper extremities and most successful after short storage in 4% PFA or prolonged storage in 0.2% PFA. The use of Lugol’s solution is not detrimental on soft-tissue MRI contrast and therefore enables effectively combining UHF-MRI with contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography using a single preparation of the specimen.Relevance statementUHF-MRI can be performed after CE-micro-CT to take advantage of both techniques.Key points• UHF-MRI is feasible to study human fetal cartilaginous and ligamentous anatomy.• Storage in low PFA concentrations (i.e., 0.2%) improves soft-tissue contrast in UHF-MRI.• Limited preservation time in high concentrations of PFA improves soft-tissue contrast in UHF-MRI.• Prior staining with Lugol’s solution does not reduce soft-tissue contrast in UHF-MRI.Graphical Abstract

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

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