Quantitative imaging of cartilage morphology at 3.0 Tesla in the presence of gadopentate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA)

• Published in: Magnetic resonance in medicine 2007-08, Vol.58 (2), p.402-406
• Main Authors: Eckstein, Felix, Buck, Robert J., Wyman, Bradley T., Kotyk, John J., Le Graverand, Marie-Pierre Hellio, Remmers, Ann E., Evelhoch, Jeffrey L., Hudelmaier, Martin, Charles, H. Cecil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; cartilage; Cartilage, Articular - pathology; contrast agent; Contrast Media; Cross-Sectional Studies; dGEMRIC; Female; Gadolinium DTPA - administration & dosage; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Injections, Intravenous; knee; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Middle Aged; osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee - pathology; Reproducibility of Results
• ISSN: 0740-3194; 1522-2594
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.21290

MRI‐based cartilage morphometry was previously validated in the absence of gadopentate dimeglumine (Gd‐DTPA). However, Gd‐DTPA is required for compositional (proteoglycan) imaging using delayed gadolinium‐enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC). Therefore, the effect of Gd‐DTPA on cartilage morphometry was studied. A total of 165 female participants (67 with and 98 without osteoarthritis [OA]) were imaged at 3.0 Tesla before and 2 hr after intravenous Gd‐DTPA injection. Flip angles in post‐Gd‐DTPA scans varied between 12° and 35°. Cartilage volume and thickness of post‐ vs. pre‐Gd‐DTPA scans showed intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of 0.85 ≥ r ≥ 0.95, mean differences between –2.1% and +1.1%, and standard deviations (SDs) of differences between 4.7% and 9.2%. Mixed‐effect models found no consistent impact of flip angle and OA status on post‐ vs. pre‐Gd‐DTPA differences. Accurate morphological measurements of cartilage can be obtained after Gd‐DTPA injection, allowing compositional and morphological imaging to be combined into one session. Magn Reson Med 58:402–406, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.