ABSTRACT
The sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging to biochemical and biophysical changes
in the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage give it the potential to noninvasively
detect the earliest changes of cartilage damage. The transverse relaxation time (T2)
of cartilage has been shown to be a sensitive parameter for evaluation of early degeneration
in articular cartilage, particularly changes in water and collagen content and tissue
anisotropy. Although initial application has been in microimaging of small cartilage
explants, in vivo techniques have been developed for cartilage T2 mapping of human
joints. In addition to potential application in development of new pharmaceuticals
and surgical techniques for preserving cartilage, in vivo cartilage T2 mapping can
improve understanding of arthritis, cartilage aging, and response of cartilage to
exercise.
KEYWORDS
Articular cartilage - cartilage collagen - arthritis - osteoarthritis - magnetic resonance
imaging - cartilage T2
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Timothy J MosherM.D.
Department of Radiology/NMR Building M108
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
