Evaluation of knee joint cartilage through T2 mapping technique by magnetic resonance

The T2 Mapping technique, obtained through Magnetic Resonance Imaging shows benefits in the evaluation of the collagen network and water content of the knee cartilage at its early stage. A sample of 54 subjects (28 males | 26 females) was included in this study. The cartilage regions of the femoral condyles (medial and lateral strand) and cartilage of the patella were evaluated in the sagittal plane. The T2 decay value was extracted and statistically calculated in the different regions obtained by semi-automatic segmentation using the Live Wire technique trough Syngo MapIt/Fusion application. The main results revealed that the "Cartilage Changes" variable had a positive correlation of T2 values concerning the cartilage pathological changes and the medial condyle region (rs = 32.88 | p-value = 0.043). There was positive correlation between "age" and "Body Mass Index (BMI)" as well as a positive correlation (rs = 0,412; p-value=0.002) between T2 values, measured on the patella cartilage, and the condyles (medial/lateral) (rs = 0.388; p-value = 0.004 | rs = 0.289; p-value = 0.037). No significant statistical differences were found between the values of T2, measured in the studied anatomic regions, and the "gender" or "BMI". Therefore, the T2 Mapping technique is appropriate to describe the composition of articular cartilage, due to the fact, that on the water content and the collagen network, differences occurring in the cartilage hydration. It was concluded that the routine standard MRI of the knee, excluding T2 mapping, does not have the accuracy to effective treatment as well doesn't promote the early prevention of knee cartilage damage.