Electrical conductivity-based magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may provide unique information on tissue condition because its contrast originates from the concentration and mobility of ions in the cellular space. We imaged the conductivity of normal canine prostate in vivo and evaluated tissue contrast in terms of both the conductivity distribution and anatomical significance. Five healthy laboratory beagles were used. After clipping the pelvis hair, we attached electrodes and placed each dog inside the bore of an MRI scanner. During MR scanning, we injected imaging currents into two mutually orthogonal directions between two pairs of electrodes. A multi spin echo pulse sequence was used to obtain the MR magnitude and magnetic flux density images. The projected current density algorithm was used to reconstruct the conductivity image. Conductivity images showed unique contrast depending on the prostatic tissues. From the conductivity distribution, conductivity was highest in the center area and lower in the order of the middle and outer areas of prostatic tissues. The middle and outer areas were, respectively, 11.2 and 25.5% lower than the center area. Considering anatomical significance, conductivity was highest in the central zone and lower in the order of the transitional and peripheral zones in all prostates. The transitional and peripheral zones were, respectively, 7.5 and 17.8% lower than the central zone. Current conductivity-based MR imaging can differentiate prostatic tissues without using any contrast media or additional MR scans. The electrical conductivity images with unique contrast to tissue condition can provide a prior information on tissues in situ to be used for human imaging.

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基于电导率的对比成像用于表征前列腺组织：体内动物可行性研究

基于电导率的磁共振（MR）成像可提供有关组织状况的独特信息，因为其对比度源自细胞空间中离子的浓度和迁移率。我们对体内正常犬前列腺的电导率进行了成像，并根据电导率分布和解剖学意义评估了组织对比度。使用了五只健康的实验室小猎犬。剪掉骨盆的头发后，我们连接电极并将每只狗放在MRI扫描仪的孔内。在MR扫描期间，我们将成像电流注入到两对电极之间的两个相互正交的方向中。多自旋回波脉冲序列用于获得MR幅值和磁通密度图像。投影电流密度算法用于重建电导率图像。电导率图像显示出独特的对比度，具体取决于前列腺组织。从电导率分布来看，电导率在前列腺组织的中心区域最高，而在前列腺组织的中部和外部区域则依次降低。中部和外部区域分别比中心区域低11.2和25.5％。考虑到解剖学意义，在所有前列腺中，电导率在中央区最高，而在过渡区和外周区的顺序较低。过渡区和外围区分别比中心区低7.5％和17.8％。当前基于电导率的MR成像无需使用任何造影剂或其他MR扫描即可区分前列腺组织。