Markers of low field NMR relaxation features of tissues

This work presents an approach to exploiting Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry data (¹H spin-lattice relaxation rates covering the frequency range from below 1 kHz to 10 MHz) for the purpose of differentiating between pathological and reference tissues. Characteristic quantities (markers) that can be obtained in a straightforward manner, not resorting to an advanced analysis of ¹H spin-lattice relaxation data, have been identified and compared for pathological and reference colon tissues. Moreover, the relaxation data have been parametrised in terms of Lorentzian spectral densities and the possibility of using the obtained dipolar relaxation constants and correlation times as biomarkers to assess the state of tissues has been discussed. It has also been demonstrated that the relaxation data for the reference and the pathological tissues can be attributed to two groups (for each case). The studies are a step towards exploiting the potential of NMR relaxometry for characterisation of pathological changes in tissues.