MAPPING ABNORMAL SYNOVIAL VASCULAR-PERMEABILITY IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT ARTHRITIS IN THE RABBIT USING MRI

An automated method for two-dimensional spatial depiction (mapping) of quantitative physiological tissue characteristics derived from contra st-enhanced MRI was applied to a model of inflammatory disease represe nted by antigen-induced arthritis of the temporomandibular joint in th e rabbit. Specifically, an established two-compartment kinetic model o f unidirectional mass transport was implemented on a pixel-by-pixel ba sis to generate maps of tissue permeability surface area product (PS) and fractional blood volume (BV) based on dynamic MRI intensity data a fter administration of albumin-(Gd-DTPA)(30), a prototype macromolecul ar contrast medium designed for blood pool enhancement. Maps of PS and BV in a disease model of induced arthritis clearly depicted zones of increased permeability (up to similar to 200 mu l/cc/h-compared to 25 mu l/cc/h in normal tissues).