3D UTE-T2* analysis of achilles tendons disease and correlation with clinical score / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare T2* value in healthy and diseased achilles tendons (AT) using 3D-ultra-short echo time (UTE),and to analyze the correlation between T2* value and clinical scores.Methods Fifteen patients (patients group) and ten volunteers (control group) were included and underwent an MR scan with UTE sequence.The T2* value of four ROI in AT were calculated.Independent sample t-test was used to compare the differences of T2* value between two groups.The correlation of T2* values with the American Orthopaedic Foot and ankle society ankle hindfoot scale (AOFAS) and achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) were analyzed.Results The T2* value of four ROI were statistically significantly higher in patients group than those of control group.There were negative correlation between T2* and AOFAS or ATRS scores (r=-0.92,-0.90,both P＜0.01).Conclusion The T2* value of pathologic AT increases.The quantitative MRI UTE-T2* can evaluate AT from the biochemical structure and correlates with clinical outcomes,which is helpful to diagnose AT in the early stage.