Ultrashort Echo Time Quantitative Susceptibility Source Separation in the Musculoskeletal System: A Feasibility Study

Motivation: Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) advances biochemical tissue analysis, especially in musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging, yet struggles with short T2 tissues like tendons and bone. Goal(s): To validate UTE-based QSM for susceptibility source separation in MSK tissues, targeting accurate detection of paramagnetic and diamagnetic substances. Approach: Using phantoms with calcium carbonate and iron oxide and in vivo MRI on hemophilia patients, UTE-QSM was applied for susceptibility source separation. Results: The UTE-QSM method accurately distinguished paramagnetic hemosiderin deposits in joints and demonstrated improved sensitivity for MSK tissues, showing promise for advanced tissue characterization in clinical settings. Impact: UTE-based QSM enables precise separation of paramagnetic and diamagnetic sources in musculoskeletal tissues, improving detection of iron deposits in joints. This technique promises enhanced accuracy in diagnosing conditions like hemophilic arthropathy and assessing biochemical tissue composition in clinical applications.