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• Review •
Zero echo time magnetic resonance imaging in the skeletal system: Advances in clinical application
ZHAO Qianyu  WAN Tianrui  CHEN Xiaoxi 

Cite this article as: ZHAO Q Y, WAN T R, CHEN X X. Zero echo time magnetic resonance imaging in the skeletal system: Advances in clinical application[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2026, 17(4): 219-225. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.04.031.


[Abstract] Zero echo time magnetic resonance imaging (ZTE-MRI) enables direct visualization of cortical bone and tendon by imaging ultra-short T2 tissues. With advantages including no radiation, low noise, and fast acquisition, it has emerged as a key modality in skeletal system imaging. Although ZTE has shown promise in trauma, joint disorders, and bone tumors, its technical principles, recent advances, and clinical utility have lacked systematic synthesis. This review focuses on the principles of ZTE imaging and its clinical applications in the skeletal system. It summarizes recent advances in diagnosing various skeletal disorders, analyzes limitations in spatial resolution, image artifacts, and complex region assessment, and proposes that future efforts should focus on multidimensional artificial intelligence applications to systematically improve image quality. This review aimed to provide a theoretical foundation and technical reference for advancing ZTE in precise musculoskeletal imaging and guiding future studies.
[Keywords] zero echo time；skeletal system；magnetic resonance imaging；bone tumor；osteoarticular diseases；artificial intelligence；deep learning

ZHAO Qianyu   WAN Tianrui   CHEN Xiaoxi*  

Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China

Corresponding author: CHEN X X, E-mail: chenxiaoxi_zmu@126.com

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2025-12-21
Accepted  2026-04-10
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.04.031
Cite this article as: ZHAO Q Y, WAN T R, CHEN X X. Zero echo time magnetic resonance imaging in the skeletal system: Advances in clinical application[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2026, 17(4): 219-225. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.04.031.

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