Assessment of meniscus with adiabatic T1ρ and T2ρ relaxation time in asymptomatic subjects and patients with mild osteoarthritis: a feasibility study

• Published in: Osteoarthritis and cartilage 2018-04, Vol.26 (4), p.580-587
• Main Authors: Kajabi, A.W., Casula, V., Nissi, M.J., Peuna, A., Podlipská, J., Lammentausta, E., Saarakkala, S., Guermazi, A., Nieminen, M.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adiabatic T1ρ; Adiabatic T2ρ; Meniscus; Osteoarthritis; Quantitative MRI; Relaxation
• ISSN: 1063-4584; 1522-9653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2017.12.006

To investigate the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) adiabatic relaxation times in the rotating frame (adiabatic T1ρ and T2ρ) to detect structural alterations in meniscus tissue of mild OA patients and asymptomatic volunteers. MR images of 24 subjects (age range: 50–67 years, 12 male), including 12 patients with mild osteoarthritis (OA) (Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) = 1, 2) and 12 asymptomatic volunteers, were acquired using a 3 T clinical MRI system. Morphological assessment was performed using semiquantitative MRI OA Knee Score (MOAKS). Adiabatic T1ρ and T2ρ (AdT1ρ, AdT2ρ) relaxation time maps were calculated in regions of interest (ROIs) containing medial and lateral horns of menisci. The median relaxation time values of the ROIs were compared between subjects classified based on radiographic findings and MOAKS evaluations. MOAKS assessment of patients and volunteers indicated the presence of meniscal and cartilage lesions in both groups. For the combined cohort group, prolonged AdT1ρ was observed in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (PHMED) in subjects with MOAKS meniscal tear (P