Abstract

To measure the variability of T1? relaxation times using CubeQuant, T2 relaxation times using quantitative double echo in steady state (DESS), and normalized sodium signals using 3D cones sodium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of knee cartilage in vivo at 3 T.Eight healthy subjects were scanned at 3 T at baseline, 1 day, 5 months, and 1 year. Ten regions of interest (ROIs) of knee cartilage were segmented in the medial and lateral compartments of each subject's knee. T1? and T2 relaxation times and normalized sodium signals were measured and the root-mean-square coefficient of variation (CVRMS) was calculated. Intra-subject variability was measured over short, moderate and long-term, as well as intra-observer and inter-observer variability.The average intra-subject CVRMS measurements over short, moderate, and long-term time periods were 4.6%, 6.1%, and 6.0% for the T1? measurements, 6.4%, 9.3%, and 10.7% for the T2 measurements and 11.3%, 11.6%, and 12.9% for the sodium measurements, respectively. The average CVRMS measurements for intra-observer and inter-observer segmentation were 3.8% and 5.7% for the T1? measurements, 4.7% and 6.7% for the T2 measurements, and 8.1% and 11.4% for the sodium measurements, respectively.These CVRMS measurements are substantially lower than previously measured changes expected in patients with advanced osteoarthritis compared to healthy volunteers, suggesting that CubeQuant T1?, quantitative DESS T2 and 3D cones sodium measurements are sufficiently sensitive for in vivo cartilage studies.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.joca.2014.06.001

View details for Web of Science ID 000343139800027

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4185151