The effect of magnetization transfer contrast on muscle image and tissue contrast in foot MRI: A qualitative study

BackgroundMagnetization Transfer Contrast (MTC) is a technique with different methods that can provide such a good contrast for tissue characterization. MTC is based on very clear biophysical and biochemical properties, because different tissues have different macromolecular compositions, the degree of interaction can be very different which can produce very high tissue contrast. Muscle becomes the second tissue with the largest percentage after skin (60-80%) experiencing signal attenuation when the MTC is applied. At Premier Bintaro Hospital reported that related MRI images have not produced good tissue contrast, therefore a combination technique that can be used in the sequences is urgently needed.MethodsA qualitative study with experimental approach was done to confirm the availability and probability of applying the MTC technique to related sequences as well as qualitatively assessing the effect of using MTC on the generated muscle image signal. One patient with pedis MRI examination used as sample to assessing the effect of MTC in form of on-resonance MTC and off-resonance MTC.ResultsQualitatively MTC has an impact on signal reduction in muscle image by 13-15% using both on-resonance and off resonance methods. Respondents also gave an assessment by increasing subjective contrast (visually on contrast, detail, and sharpness) on the use of both MTC methods. The muscle signal is suppressed due to the composition of macromolecules in muscle tissue including the bound pool category. Increased tissue contrast occurs both objectively and subjectively due to a decrease in muscle image signals without a decrease in the signal image of the surrounding tissue.ConclusionThere is a change in the intensity of the muscle image signal and an increase in tissue contrast both objectively and subjectively on the pedis MRI with application of Magnetization Contrast Techniques (MTC).