High-resolution morphological and biochemical imaging of articular cartilage of the ankle joint at 3.0 T using a new dedicated phased array coil: in vivo reproducibility study
Goetz H Welsch, Tallal C Mamisch, Michael Weber, Wilhelm Horger, Klaus Bohndorf, Siegfried Trattnig, Goetz H Welsch, Tallal C Mamisch, Michael Weber, Wilhelm Horger, Klaus Bohndorf, Siegfried Trattnig
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and quantitative T2 mapping of the talocrural cartilage within a clinically applicable scan time using a new dedicated ankle coil and high-field MRI.
Materials and methods: Ten healthy volunteers (mean age 32.4 years) underwent MRI of the ankle. As morphological sequences, proton density fat-suppressed turbo spin echo (PD-FS-TSE), as a reference, was compared with 3D true fast imaging with steady-state precession (TrueFISP). Furthermore, biochemical quantitative T2 imaging was prepared using a multi-echo spin-echo T2 approach. Data analysis was performed three times each by three different observers on sagittal slices, planned on the isotropic 3D-TrueFISP; as a morphological parameter, cartilage thickness was assessed and for T2 relaxation times, region-of-interest (ROI) evaluation was done. Reproducibility was determined as a coefficient of variation (CV) for each volunteer; averaged as root mean square (RMSA) given as a percentage; statistical evaluation was done using analysis of variance.
Results: Cartilage thickness of the talocrural joint showed significantly higher values for the 3D-TrueFISP (ranging from 1.07 to 1.14 mm) compared with the PD-FS-TSE (ranging from 0.74 to 0.99 mm); however, both morphological sequences showed comparable good results with RMSA of 7.1 to 8.5%. Regarding quantitative T2 mapping, measurements showed T2 relaxation times of about 54 ms with an excellent reproducibility (RMSA) ranging from 3.2 to 4.7%.
Conclusion: In our study the assessment of cartilage thickness and T2 relaxation times could be performed with high reproducibility in a clinically realizable scan time, demonstrating new possibilities for further investigations into patient groups.
References
- J Magn Reson Imaging. 2007 Aug;26(2):375-85
- Eur Radiol. 2007 Jan;17(1):103-18
- Radiology. 2004 Aug;232(2):592-8
- Z Rheumatol. 2004 Oct;63(5):385-92
- Invest Radiol. 2006 Feb;41(2):189-97
- AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2004 Jan;182(1):167-72
- Anat Embryol (Berl). 2001 Mar;203(3):147-73
- Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2006 Feb;14(1):63-76
- AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007 Jul;189(1):240-5
- Magn Reson Imaging. 2001 Feb;19(2):177-85
- Magn Reson Med. 2004 Feb;51(2):394-8
- Osteoporos Int. 1995;5(4):262-70
- Eur Radiol. 2007 Jun;17(6):1518-28
- Eur J Radiol. 2005 Aug;55(2):283-8
- Radiol Clin North Am. 2005 Jul;43(4):641-53, vii
- Radiology. 2005 Jan;234(1):245-9
- J Magn Reson Imaging. 2002 Aug;16(2):209-16
- Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2004 Dec;8(4):355-68
- Radiology. 2006 Nov;241(2):407-14
- Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2006 Feb;14(1):41-62
- Magn Reson Imaging. 2004 Jul;22(6):807-14
- Radiology. 1997 Nov;205(2):546-50
- Rofo. 1997 Apr;166(4):303-6
- Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Apr;65(4):433-41
- Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2006 Feb;14(1):27-40
- Eur Radiol. 2007 May;17(5):1135-46
- Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2002 Feb;(395):186-92
- AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001 Sep;177(3):665-9
- Arthroscopy. 2003 Apr;19(4):353-9
- J Orthop Res. 2007 Feb;25(2):143-51
- MAGMA. 2004 Dec;17(3-6):219-28
- Top Magn Reson Imaging. 2004 Aug;15(4):223-36
- AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2004 Jul;183(1):24-8
- Arthritis Rheum. 2001 Sep;44(9):2072-7
- Eur Radiol. 2007 May;17(5):1147-55
- Orthopade. 2001 Jan;30(1):20-7
- Magn Reson Med. 2001 Jan;45(1):36-41
- Magn Reson Med. 2007 Feb;57(2):448-54
- Skeletal Radiol. 1996 Nov;25(8):749-55
- Radiology. 2000 Jan;214(1):259-66
- Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007 Jan;15(1):88-92
- Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2005 Jul;13(7):601-7
- Phys Med Biol. 1999 Dec;44(12):N261-4
- Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2007 Feb;15(2):198-204
- Eur Radiol. 2006 Jun;16(6):1298-307
- J Orthop Res. 2002 Mar;20(2):249-56
- J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003;85-A Suppl 2:25-32
Source: PubMed