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An in vitro comparative study of T2 and T2* mappings of human articular cartilage at 3-Tesla MRI using histology as the standard of reference

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between T2 value, T2* value, and histological grades of degenerated human articular cartilage.

Materials and methods

T2 mapping and T2* mapping of nine tibial osteochondral specimens were obtained using a 3-T MRI after total knee arthroplasty. A total of 94 ROIs were analyzed. Histological grades were assessed using the David–Vaudey scale. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis and Pearson’s correlation analysis were performed.

Results

The mean relaxation values in T2 map with different histological grades (0, 1, 2) of the cartilage were 51.9 ± 9.2 ms, 55.8 ± 12.8 ms, and 59.6 ± 10.2 ms, respectively. The mean relaxation values in T2* map with different histological grades (0, 1, 2) of the cartilage were 20.3 ± 10.3 ms, 21.1 ± 12.4 ms, and 15.4 ± 8.5 ms, respectively. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis confirmed a positive correlation between T2 value and histological grade (ρ = 0.313, p < 0.05). Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between T2 and T2* (r = −0.322, p < 0.05). Although T2* values showed a decreasing trend with an increase in cartilage degeneration, this correlation was not statistically significant in this study (ρ = −0.192, p = 0.129).

Conclusions

T2 mapping was correlated with histological degeneration, and it may be a good biomarker for osteoarthritis in human articular cartilage. However, the strength of the correlation was weak (ρ = 0.313). Although T2* values showed a decreasing trend with an increase in cartilage degeneration, the correlation was not statistically significant. Therefore, T2 mapping may be more appropriate for the initial diagnosis of articular cartilage degeneration in the knee joint. Further studies on T2* mapping are needed to confirm its reliability and mechanism in cartilage degeneration.

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Acknowledgments

Professor Lee KB, Dr. Jin Long Hao and Xuenan Cui are gratefully acknowledged. This study was supported by a grant from the Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project, Ministry for Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs, Republic of Korea (A091120).

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, San 5, Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 443-721, South Korea

    Taehee Kim, Sunghoon Park & Kyu-Sung Kwack

  2. Musculoskeletal Imaging Laboratory, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, South Korea

    Taehee Kim, Sunghoon Park & Kyu-Sung Kwack

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea

    Byoung-Hyun Min

  4. Cartilage Regeneration Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea

    Byoung-Hyun Min, Seung-Hyun Yoon & Kyu-Sung Kwack

  5. School of Information and Communication Engineering, INHA University, Incheon, South Korea

    Hakil Kim

  6. Regional Clinical Trial Center, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, South Korea

    Hyun Young Lee

  7. Department of Biostatistics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Hyun Young Lee

Authors
  1. Taehee Kim
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  2. Byoung-Hyun Min
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  7. Kyu-Sung Kwack
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Correspondence to Kyu-Sung Kwack.

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Kim, T., Min, BH., Yoon, SH. et al. An in vitro comparative study of T2 and T2* mappings of human articular cartilage at 3-Tesla MRI using histology as the standard of reference. Skeletal Radiol 43, 947–954 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-1872-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-1872-z

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