T1rho MRI of menisci and cartilage in patients with osteoarthritis at 3T

Abstract

Objective To assess and compare subregional and whole T1rho values (median ± interquartile range) of femorotibial cartilage and menisci in patients with doubtful (Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 1) to severe (KL4) osteoarthritis (OA) at 3T. Materials and Methods 30 subjects with varying degrees of OA (KL1–4, 13 females, 17 males, mean age ± SD = 63.9 ± 13.1 years) were evaluated on a 3T MR scanner using a spin-lock-based 3D GRE sequence for T1rho mapping. Clinical proton density (PD)-weighted fast spin echo (FSE) images in sagittal (without fat saturation), axial, and coronal (fat-saturated) planes were acquired for cartilage and meniscus Whole-Organ MR Imaging Score (WORMS) grading. Wilcoxon rank sum test was performed to determine whether there were any statistically significant differences between subregional and whole T1rho values of femorotibial cartilage and menisci in subjects with doubtful to severe OA. Results Lateral (72±10 milliseconds, median ± interquartile range) and medial (65±10 milliseconds) femoral anterior cartilage subregions in moderate-severe OA subjects had significantly higher T1rho values (P < 0.05) than cartilage subregions and whole femorotibial cartilage in doubtful-minimal OA subjects. There were statistically significant differences in meniscus T1rho values of the medial posterior subregion of subjects with moderate-severe OA and T1rho values of all subregions and the whole meniscus in subjects with doubtful-minimal OA. When evaluated based on WORMS, statistically significant differences were identified in T1rho values between the lateral femoral anterior cartilage subregion in patients with WORMS5–6 (advanced degeneration) and whole femorotibial cartilage and all cartilage subregions in patients with WORMS0–1 (normal). Conclusion T1rho values are higher in specific meniscus and femorotibial cartilage subregions. These findings suggest that regional damage of both femorotibial hyaline cartilage and menisci may be associated with osteoarthritis.

Variability of CubeQuant T1ρ, quantitative DESS T2, and cones sodium MRI in knee cartilage

“…CubeQuant T 1ρ is a novel, SNR-efficient, five minute sequence that can determine 3D T 1ρ relaxation times (25). Many groups measure T 1ρ relaxation times using 3D T 1ρ gradient recalled echo (GRE) sequences (26) or modified GRE sequences, such as a T 1ρ -prepared balanced-GRE (27), a spin-lock-based 3D GRE sequence (28), or the Magnetization-Prepared Angle-modulated Partitioned- k -space Spoiled gradient recalled (SPGR) Sequence (MAPSS) (19). Quantitative double echo in steady state (DESS) is a 10 minute steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequence that can provide T 2 relaxation times (29,30).…”

Physical Activity and Spatial Differences in Medial Knee T1rho and T2 Relaxation Times in Knee Osteoarthritis

“…2,14,30,31,36,37 A number of studies have demonstrated the utility of these imaging metrics as indicators of cartilage degeneration commonly seen in OA. 3,14,26,31,39,50,54,58 …”

Are There Sex Differences in Knee Cartilage Composition and Walking Mechanics in Healthy and Osteoarthritis Populations?

“…An increase in T 1q relaxation times indicates loss of proteoglycans and possibly a concomitant increase in hydration [1,33,34,38]. T 1q relaxation times have been shown to detect early knee cartilage degeneration in multiple studies [33,49,53,55].…”