Keywords:
Trauma, Image verification, Athletic injuries, Imaging sequences, Computer Applications-Detection, diagnosis, MR, Musculoskeletal joint, Extremities
Authors:
I. Dutova1, A. K. Karpenko2; 1St. Petersburg/RU, 2 St-Petersburg/RU
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-1846
Results
Proton density–weighted and T2-weighted fast SE imaging techniques are well suited for morphologic assessments of articular cartilage as well as menisci and ligamentous structures.
T2 of hyaline articular cartilage reflects interactions among water molecules and between water molecules and surrounding macromolecules and is highly sensitive to alterations of the cartilage matrix.
In routine clinical practice,
fat-suppressed images are most commonly used sequences for evaluating articular cartilage.
In cartilage imaging,
fat suppression techniques provide increased contrast at the subchondral bone–cartilage interface.
Proton-density sequences provide higher overall signal intensity in cartilage than standard T2-weighted sequences do,
allowing better differentiation between cartilage and subchondral bone.
T2-mapping is useful for identifying and grading sites of knee cartilage injury,
which appear as areas with T2 higher than that of normal cartilage.
Cartilage lesions were found in 34 (77%) of 44 knees.
In 8 patients T2 mapping showed a full-thickness cartilage defect (fig.1,
fig.2),
14 patients - less than 50% of the depth of the cartilage (fig.3,
fig.4,
fig.5,
fig.6),
and 12 patients - more than 50% of the depth (fig.7,
fig.8).
On T2-mapping more clearly defined areas of edema and defects in the articular cartilage.