Assessment of meniscus with adiabatic T 1ρ and T 2ρ relaxation time in asymptomatic subjects and patients with mild osteoarthritis: a feasibility study

• Published in: Osteoarthritis and cartilage Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 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: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Adiabatic T(2ρ); Relaxation; Adiabatic T(1ρ); Meniscus; Quantitative MRI; Osteoarthritis
• 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 T and T ) 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 T and T (AdT , AdT ) 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 AdT was observed in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (PHMED) in subjects with MOAKS meniscal tear (P < 0.05). AdT was statistically significantly longer in PHMED of subjects with MOAKS full-thickness cartilage loss (P < 0.05). After adjusting for multiple comparisons, differences in medians of observed AdT and AdT values between mild OA patients and asymptomatic volunteers did not reach statistical significance. AdT and AdT measurements have the potential to identify changes in structural composition of meniscus tissue associated with meniscal tear and cartilage loss in a cohort group of mild OA patients and asymptomatic volunteers.