Author/Editor		Snoj, Žiga; Vidmar, Jernej; Gergar, Maša; Plut, Domen; Salapura, Vladka
Title		T2 distribution profiles are a good way to show cartilage regional variabilities and cartilage insufficiency
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		, št. Vol. 49
Publication year		2020
Volume		str. 137‐145
ISSN		0364-2348 - Skeletal radiology
Language		eng
Abstract		To use T2 relaxation time distribution profiles to assess inter-group regional differences along articular surfaces and to evaluate the feasibility of this analysis for comparison of cartilage insufficiency. Materials and methods Twelve pairs matched according to age and gender (12 healthy volunteers and 12 patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR)) underwent 3-T MRI. T2 maps were calculated from six time echo images of the midsagittal slice in the lateral and medial compartment. The femoral and tibial cartilage was analyzed by measuring T2 distribution profiles along the articular surfaces. Results T2 distribution profiles were generated along the length of the articular surface in the femorotibial compartments. Differences in the T2 distribution profiles between the tibial and femoral cartilage as well as between the cartilage of the femoral condyles were identified in healthy individuals. T2 distribution profiles clearly demonstrated cartilage insufficiency in the weight-bearing areas for subjects in the ACLR group. Conclusions T2 distribution profiles can identify regional differences in femoral and tibial cartilage. The T2 distribution profile pattern is preserved with cartilage insufficiency, however, with important differences in T2 values for the ACLR group in weightbearing areas.
Keywords		T2 mapiranje kolena ligamenti hrustanec radiološke metoda T2 mapping knee ligaments cartilage radiology