Spatial variation in cartilage T2 of the knee

Technical limitations imposed by resolution and B1 homogeneity have thus fa r limited quantitative in vivo T2 mapping of cartilage to the patella. The purpose of this study is to develop T2 mapping of the femoral/tibial joint and assess regional variability of cartilage T2 in the knee. Quantitative i n vivo T2 mapping of the knee was performed on 15 asymptomatic adults (age, 22-44) using a 3T MR scanner. There is a consistent pattern of spatial var iation in cartilage T2 with longer values near the articular surface. The g reatest variation occurs in the patella, where T2 increases from 45.3 +/- 2 .5 msec at a normalized distance of 0.33-67 +/- 5.5 msec at a distance of 1 .0. These results demonstrate feasibility of performing in vivo T2 mapping of femoral tibial cartilage. Except for the superficial 15% where T2 values are lower, the spatial variation in T2 of femoral and tibial cartilage is similar to patellar cartilage. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.