The goal of this study was to visualize the supraspinatus tendon three-dimensionally using fast spin-echo (FSE) MRI and validate the accuracy of measuring the dimensions of the supraspinatus tendon based on 3D reconstructed images. Nine cadaver shoulders (51–84 y/o, mean 70.0 y/o) were imaged at conventional T2-weighted spin-echo (CSE), gradient echo (GRE), and 3D T2-weighted FSE sequences. Each "object" of the supraspinatus muscle, tendon and scapula was three-dimensionally reconstructed using ANALYZE™ image data processing software. The FSE images revealed significantly higher contrast of the tendon and contrast-to-noise ratios of the fat-to-tendon and fat-to-muscle. The length of the anterior, middle, and posterior portions of the tendon were measured in two ways: (1) from the three-dimensional reconstructed images, and (2) directly from the cadaver specimen using calipers. No statistically significant differences were found between the ANALYZE™ and caliper measurements using a paired t-test for the anterior (p = 0.55), middle (p = 0.57) and posterior (p = 0.44) portions of the supraspinatus. The 3D FSE sequence exhibits higher spatial resolution, spends shorter acquisition time, and constructs a voxel data set. These advantages can prevent blurring artifacts when imaging the supraspinatus tendon of a human body. Tendon length measurements derived from three-dimensional reconstructions using ANALYZE™ were found to be good estimates of actual tendon length. Therefore, the combination of FSE sequence and 3D image data processing provides a method for noninvasive quantitative analysis of supraspinatus tendon morphology. The results lay the groundwork for future quantitative studies of cuff pathology.
Image Data Processing via Neural Networks for Tool Wear Prediction