Magnetic resonance relaxation times of percutaneously obtained normal and abnormal body fluids.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Seventy-three [human] fluid samples obtained via percutaneous aspiration and drainage were analyzed by proton magnetic resonance [MR] spectroscopy. The fluids included abscess contents, bile, ascitic fluid, cyst and pseudocyst fluid, urine, hematomas, pleural fluid, lymphoceles, seromas, CSF, pancreatic ductal fluid, and necrotic tumor. They were grouped by their clinical etiology and analyzed with respect to their inherent magnetic relaxation properties. In addition, some samples were tested for the following chemical parameters which were correlated with T1 [spin lattice relaxation time] and T2 [spin-spin relaxation time] values: total protein content (n = 36), osmolality (n = 24), specific gravity (n = 11) and amylase levels (n = 23). A large overlap was found in the T1 (spin-lattice) and T2 (spin-spin) relaxation times of the fluids; however, the mean T1 value of abscesses and hematomas were significantly lower than those of other fluids. Similar variability was seen in T2 values, though hematomas and abscesses again could be distinguished by shorter relaxation times. The spin-lattice (1/T1) and spin-spin relaxation rates (1/T2) showed a moderate correlation with total protein content, osmolality and specific gravity. There is some predictability to MR analysis of body fluids, though the overlap in magnetic relaxation times limits specificity.