What Tissues Look Like in Certain Sequences

CSF T1

Dark

Fat T1

Bright

White Matter T1

Intermediate to bright

Grey Matter T1

Intermediate to dark

Bone T1

Dark

Bone Marrow T1

Intermediate to bright

Blood Vessels T1

Mostly Dark; Depending on flow characteristics, can be bright or dark

Pituitary gland T1

Intermediate

Choroid Plexus T1

Intermediate

Cerebellum T1

Grey matter darker than white matter

Brain Stem T1

Intermediate to bright

Sinuses T1

Dark (bc air)

Thalamus T1

Intermediate

Putamen T1

Intermediate

Hippocampus T1

Intermediate

Caudate Nucleus T1

Intermediate

Corpus Callosum T1

Intermediate

Pineal Gland T1

Intermediate

Spinal Cord T1

Intermediate

Intervertebral Disc

Intermediate to bright

Ligaments T1

Intermediate to dark

Nerve Roots T1

Intermediate

Liver T1

Intermediate to dark

Gallbladder and Common bile duct T1

Dark

Spleen T1

Intermediate

Kidney T1

Intermediate

Ureters T1

Intermediate

Pancreas T1

Intermediate to dark

Urinary Bladder T1

Dark

Prostate T1

Intermediate

Uterus T1

Intermediate

Muscle T1

Intermediate

Cartilage T1

Intermediate to dark

Synovial Fluid T1

Dark

Tendons T1

Intermediate to dark

Muscle T2

Intermediate to dark

Fat T2

Very bright

CSF T2

Intermediate to bright

White Matter T2

Darker than gray matter

Grey Matter T2

Intermediate to bright

Bone T2

Dark

Bone Marrow T2

Often Bright

Blood Vessels T2

Mostly Dark

Pituitary Gland T2

Intermediate

Choroid Plexus T2

Intermediate to bright

Cerebellum T2

Gray matter brighter than white matter

Brain Stem T2

Intermediate

Sinuses T2

Dark

Thalamus T2

Brighter than white matter

Putamen T2

Brighter than white matter

Pineal Gland T2

Intermediate

Hippocampus T2

Brighter than white matter

Corpus Callosum T2

Intermediate to Dark

Caudate Nucleus T2

Brighter than white matter

Spinal Cord T2

Intermediate

Fat T2

Bright but darker than T1

Intervertebral Disc T2

Nucleus pulposus and annulus intermediate

Ligaments T2

Intermediate to dark

Nerve Roots T2

Intermediate

Teeth T1

Dark

Teeth T2

Dark

Tongue T1

Intermediate to Bright

Tongue T2

Intermediate to Dark

Parotid Gland T1

Intermediate to bright

Parotid Gland T2

Intermediate to bright

Parotid Duct T1

Dark

Parotid Duct T2

Bright

Ureters T1

Dark

Ureters T2

Bright

Liver T2

Intermediate

Gallbladder T2

Bright

Common Bile Duct T2

Bright

Spleen T2

Intermediate

Kidney T2

Pancreas T2

Intermediate

Urinary Bladder T2

Bright

Prostate T2

Intermediate to bright

Uterus T2

Myometrium (muscle wall) has intermediate signal, endometrium is generally high signal

Synovial Fluid T2

Bright

Cartilage T2

Intermediate to dark

Tendons T2

Intermediate to dark

Edema/Inflammation T1

High Signal

Edema/Inflammation T2

Low Signal

Acute Hemorrhage T1

Variable

Acute Hemorrhage T2

Variable

Cysts T1

High Signal

Cysts T2

Low Signal

Tumors T1

Mostly High Signal

Tumors T2

Mostly Low Signal

Abscess T1

High Signal for the liquid center with a low signal capsule

Abscess T2

Low Signal

Fatty Lesions T1

High Signal

Fatty Lesions T2

High Signal

Fibrosis T1

Low Signal

Fibrosis T2

Low to Intermediate Signal

Degenerated Disc Disease (in the spine) T1

Variable; may see High Signal with annular tears

Degenerated Disc Disease (in the spine) T2

Low Signal

Avascular Necrosis (bone) T1

Variable; often High Signal in the early stages

Avascular Necrosis (bone) T2

Low Signal in the necrotic area

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Plaques (in the brain) T1

High Signal