Purpose: To determine the feasibility of using multicomponent-driven equilibrium single-shot observation of T1 and T2 (mcDESPOT) for evaluating the human knee joint at 3.0T and to investigate depth-dependent and regional-dependent variations in multicomponent T2 parameters within articular cartilage.
Materials and methods: mcDESPOT was performed on the knee joint of 10 asymptomatic volunteers at 3.0T. Single-component T2 relaxation time (T2single ), multicomponent T2 relaxation time for water tightly bound to proteoglycan (T2PG ) and bulk water loosely bound to the macromolecular matrix (T2BW ), and fraction of water tightly bound to proteoglycan (FPG ) were measured in eight cartilage subsections and within the superficial and deep layers of patellar cartilage. Statistical analysis was used to investigate depth-dependent and regional-dependent variations in parameters.
Results: There was lower (P = 0.001) T2single and T2PG and higher (P < 0.001) FPG in the deep than superficial layer of patellar cartilage. There was higher (P < 0.001) FPG on the weight-bearing surfaces than nonweight-bearing surfaces. There was higher (P < 0.001) T2single , T2PG , and T2BW on the trochlea and posterior medial and lateral femoral condyles than the patella, central medial and lateral femoral condyles, and medial and lateral tibia plateaus.
Conclusion: Multicomponent T2 parameters of the articular cartilage of the human knee joint can be measured at 3.0T using mcDESPOT and show depth-dependent and regional-dependent variations.
Keywords: T2 relaxation time; cartilage; knee; multicomponent; relaxometry.
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