T2 Mapping Sequence in the Assessment of Articular Cartilage of Knee Joint. Is There Added Value?

Abstract Background: The diagnosis of early degeneration in the knee cartilage in the patients underwent routine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is of clinical significant. T2 map-ping of the knee hyaline cartilage is a rapid technique for quantitative and qualitative detection of the cartilage. T2 mapping of the cartilage is a quantitative procedure that provides informative color mapping and quantitative detection of the cartilage as morphology, water distribution and collagen fiber volume. Aim of Study: Was assessing the value of adding T2 mapping sequence to a routine MRI of the knee to evaluate articular cartilage of the knee joint. Patients and Methods: 50 patients with history of oste-oarthritis or knee injuries (28 males and 22 females) with age between 15-66 years (average age, 40.9 years) were included in our study underwent MRI of the knee joint to assess the ability of T2 mapping sequence in evaluation of the knee joint articular cartilage. Results: In this study we found that nine cases of increased T2 relaxation time corresponding to normal-appearing cartilage diagnosed by routine MRI. In this study, all lesions that were visible on routine knee MRI were diagnosed by T2 mapping, and some T2 lesions were not detected on the routine knee MRI. Conclusion: When T2 mapping sequence was added to the routine MRI of the knee the sensitivity for detecting knee cartilage lesions was increased, especially in the detection of early cartilage degeneration.