Multicomponent T-2 relaxation studies of the avian egg

• PurposeTo investigate the tissue-like multiexponential T-2 signal decays in avian eggs. MethodsTransverse relaxation studies of raw, soft-boiled and hard-boiled eggs were performed at 3 Tesla using a three-dimensional Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill imaging sequence. Signal decays over a TE range of 11 to 354 ms were fitted assuming single- and multicomponent signal decays with up to three separately decaying components. Fat saturation was used to facilitate spectral assignment of observed decay components. ResultsEgg white, yolk and the centrally located latebra all demonstrate nonmonoexponential T-2 decays. Specifically, egg white exhibits two-component decays with intermediate and long T-2 times. Meanwhile, yolk and latebra are generally best characterized with triexponential decays, with short, intermediate and very long T-2 decay times. Fat saturation revealed that the intermediate component of yolk could be attributed to lipids. Cooking of the egg profoundly altered the decay curves. ConclusionAvian egg T-2 decay curves cover a wide range of decay times. Observed T-2 components in yolk and latebra as short as 10 ms, may prove valuable for testing clinical sequences designed to measure short T-2 components, such as myelin-associated water in the brain. Thus we propose that the egg can be a versatile and widely available MR transverse relaxation phantom. Magn Reson Med 75:2156-2164, 2016. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Keyword

T-2-decay

CPMG

multiexponential

egg white

yolk

latebra

MR phantom

myelin water

brain

phantom

decay

Radiology

Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)