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Abstract
Evaluation of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration in articular cartilage is of particular
interest to the study of degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA).
Noninvasive imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed
tomography (CT) have demonstrated the potential to assess biochemical markers of cartilage
integrity such as GAG content; however, many imaging techniques are available and
the optimization of particular techniques in the diagnosis of joint disease remains
an active area of research. In order to highlight the differences between these various
approaches, this work compares MRI (T1, T2 and T1rho) and contrast-enhanced CT in
human articular cartilage, in both the presence and absence of gadolinium-based contrast
agent. Pre- and postcontrast T2 values were found to be similar on a regional level
and correlated with each other. As expected, T1 values were shortened significantly
on both a global and a spatial basis in the presence of gadolinium (Gd); similar results
were found for T1rho. T2 values were found to correlate mildly with postcontrast T1,
T1(Gd) and with precontrast T1rho values. In addition, contrast-enhanced CT values
correlated with both precontrast T1rho and T1(Gd) more strongly than with precontrast
T2. Finally, T1(Gd) and precontrast T1rho were found to be moderately correlated with
CT data. However, T1(Gd) and precontrast T1rho were found to be almost completely
uncorrelated. Together, these results indicate that T1rho, T2 and contrast-enhanced
techniques may provide complementary information about the molecular environment in
cartilage during the evolution of OA.