Diamagnetic materials are substances that do not have unpaired electrons in the atomic and molecular orbitals. These materials reduce the magnitude of an applied magnetic field. More than 90% of human tissues—including oxyhemoglobin—are diamagnetic.[2]
Paramagnetic substances are substances with unpaired electrons in their atomic or molecular orbitals. These materials have no intrinsic magnetic field in the absence of an applied magnetic field, but they can augment an applied field when they are exposed to it. Examples of paramagnetic substances are copper, iron, manganese, and gadolinium.[2]
On MRI, the signal intensity of a hemorrhage depends on both the chemical state of iron (ferrous or ferric) in the hemoglobin molecule and on the integrity of the RBC membrane.[4]
Iron can be either diamagnetic or paramagnetic, depending on the state of its outer-orbital electrons. In the paramagnetic state, iron alters the T1 and T2 relaxation times of water protons as a result of magnetic dipole-dipole interaction and susceptibility effects. This dipole-dipole interaction shortens both T1 and T2 relaxation times, with a greater effect on T1 than on T2.
A susceptibility effect is present when iron atoms are compartmentalized in the RBC membrane. There, they cause inhomogeneity of the magnetic field, with a resulting loss of phase coherence and with selective shortening of the T2 relaxation time. After the RBC membrane degrades, the iron becomes more homogeneously distributed than before, and this effect is nullified.[2]
The variable appearance of hemorrhage on MRI depends on the structure of hemoglobin, on its various oxidation products,[5] and on whether unpaired (ie, paramagnetic) electrons are present (Bradley, 1992).[2]
Table 2 (see below) summarizes electronic and magnetic properties of relevant substances of MRI in ICH.
Table 2. Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Substances Relevant to MRI of ICH (Open Table in a new window)