Role of T2 Mapping Sequences using MR Imaging in Evaluation of Knee Joint Articular Cartilage

Background: Cartilage mapping using Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2 is a functional scanning procedure without invasion delivering cartography of the cartilage T2 relaxation time without using of any contrast. It is tissue anisotropy sensitive, and compositional data on the collagen network of cartilage, content of water and concentration of proteoglycans are provided by it. This study used MR scanning technique to assess the T2 mapping sequence role in diagnosis of articular cartilage lesions of knee joint.

Patients and Methods: This prospective trial was done to utilize sagittal T2 mapping sequence for assessment of articular cartilage of knee joint on 1.5 T MR. The material of this study included thirty (30) patients. The study included 24/30 cases presented by knee pain, 6/30 cases presented by knee pain following trauma, 10/30 cases presented by limitation of movement and 7/30 cases presented by knee swelling. As each patient had a single conventional MRI examination of the knee followed by a single sagittal T2 maps, 30 MRI examinations and 30 corresponding T2 maps were analyzed.

Results: The addition of sagittal T2 maps to standard views improved accuracy in diagnosing cartilage affection in early osteoarthritis. there are 69 (57.5%) lesions diagnosed as grade 0 by MRI only VS 24 (20%) lesions diagnosed as grade 0 by MRI with T2 mapping sequence and 34 (28.3%) lesions diagnosed as grade 1 by MRI only VS 77 (64.2%) lesions diagnosed as grade 1 by MRI with T2 mapping sequence. there is 46 (38.3%) lesions diagnosed as grade 1a by MRI with T2 mapping sequence which diagnosed grade 0 by MRI only.

Conclusions: This imaging plane seems to provide a useful addition to standard MR imaging when osteoarthritis is suspected specially among the young population.