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Multi‐echo GRE imaging of knee cartilage
Author(s) -
Yuen Joanna,
Hung Jachin,
Wiggermann Vanessa,
Robinson Simon D.,
McCormack Robert,
d'Entremont Agnes G.,
Rauscher Alexander
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.25438
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , cartilage , arthroscopy , medicine , articular cartilage , cartilage damage , echo (communications protocol) , osteoarthritis , magnitude (astronomy) , t2 relaxation , nuclear medicine , radiology , anatomy , pathology , physics , computer science , computer network , alternative medicine , astronomy
Purpose To visualize healthy and abnormal articular cartilage, we investigated the potential of using the 3D multi‐echo gradient echo (GRE) signal's magnitude and frequency and maps ofT 2 *relaxation. Materials and Methods After optimizing imaging parameters in five healthy volunteers, 3D multi‐echo GRE magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired at 3T in four patients with chondral damage prior to their arthroscopic surgery. Average magnitude and frequency information was extracted from the GRE images, andT 2 *maps were generated. Cartilage abnormalities were confirmed after arthroscopy and were graded using the Outerbridge classification scheme. Regions of interest were identified on average magnitude GRE images and compared to arthroscopy. Results All four patients presented with regions of Outerbridge Grade I and II cartilage damage on arthroscopy. One patient had Grade III changes. Grade I, II, and III changes were detectable on average magnitude andT 2 *maps, while Grade II and higher changes were also observable on MR frequency maps. For average magnitude images of healthy volunteers, the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the magnitude image averaged over three echoes was 4.26 ± 0.32, 12.26 ± 1.09, 14.31 ± 1.93, and 13.36 ± 1.13 in bone, femoral, tibial, and patellar cartilage, respectively. Conclusion This proof‐of‐principle study demonstrates the feasibility of using different imaging contrasts from the 3D multi‐echo GRE scan to visualize abnormalities of the articular cartilage. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Level of Evidence : 1 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;45:1502–1513