Comparing the Effect of Mechanical Loading on Deep and Superficial Cartilage Using Quantitative UTE MRI

Hanqi Wang; Zhihui Li; Qing Li; Stefan Sommer; Tongtong Chen; Yao Sun; Hongjiang Wei; Fuhua Yan; Yong Lu

doi:10.1002/jmri.28980

Comparing the Effect of Mechanical Loading on Deep and Superficial Cartilage Using Quantitative UTE MRI

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 Sep 20. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28980. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hanqi Wang¹, Zhihui Li², Qing Li³, Stefan Sommer^{4

5

6}, Tongtong Chen¹, Yao Sun¹, Hongjiang Wei⁷, Fuhua Yan¹, Yong Lu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital Luwan Branch, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
³ MR Collaborations, Siemens Healthineers Ltd., Shanghai, China.
⁴ Siemens Healthineers International AG, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁵ Swiss Center for Musculoskeletal Imaging (SCMI), Balgrist Campus, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁶ Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology (ACIT), Siemens Healthineers International AG, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁷ School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

PMID: 37728325
DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28980

Abstract

Background: The biomechanical properties of deep and superficial cartilage may be different, yet in vivo MRI validation is required.

Purpose: To compare the effect of mechanical loading on deep and superficial cartilage in young healthy adults using ultrashort echo time (UTE)-T2* mapping.

Study type: Prospective, intervention.

Subjects: Thirty-one healthy adults (54.8% females, median age = 23 years).

Field strength/sequence: 3-T, PD-FS, and UTE sequences with four echo times (TEs = 0.1, 0.5, 2.8, and 4.0 msec; 0.6 mm isotropic spatial resolution) of the left knee, acquired before and after loading exercise.

Assessment: Quantitative UTE-T2* maps of the entire knee were generated using UTE images of four TEs. In deep and superficial cartilage of patella, medial and lateral femur, medial and lateral tibia cartilage (PC, MFC, LFC, MTC, and LTC), which were segmented manually, cartilage thickness and T2* values before and after loading were measured, extracted, taken averages of, and compared. Scan-rescan repeatability was evaluated. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) data were collected. Physical activity levels were evaluated using International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Statistical tests: Paired sample t-tests, paired Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney tests, Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses, Kruskal-Wallis tests with post-hoc Bonferroni correction. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The scan-rescan repeatability was good (RMSA-CV < 10%). After exercise, deep cartilage exhibited no significant differences in cartilage thickness (P_PC = 0.576, P_MTC = 0.991, P_MFC = 0.899, P_LTC = 0.861, P_LFC = 0.290) and T2* values (P_PC = 0.914, P_MTC = 0.780, P_MFC = 0.754, P_LTC = 0.327, P_LFC = 0.811), which both significantly decreased in superficial PC, MFC, LFC, and MTC. The T2* values of superficial MTC and deep MFC were moderately correlated with higher body weight (ρ = 0.431) and lower BMI (ρ = -0.499), respectively.

Data conclusion: Deep and superficial cartilage may respond differently to mechanical loading as assessed by UTE-T2*.

Evidence level: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Keywords: cartilage; mechanical loading; osteoarthritis; ultrashort echo time (UTE).

Abstract

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