Longitudinal analysis of MRI T2 knee cartilage laminar organization in a subset of patients from the osteoarthritis initiative

The purpose of this pilot study was to longitudinally quantify the T2 laminar integrity of knee cartilage in a subset of subjects with osteoarthritis from the Osteoarthritis Initiative at baseline, 1‐year follow‐up, and 2‐year follow‐up. Cartilage from 13 subjects was divided into six compartments and subdivided into deep and superficial layers. At each time point, mean T2 values in superficial and deep layers were compared. Longitudinal analysis included full‐thickness mean T2, mean deep T2, mean superficial T2, mean T2 laminar difference, mean percentage T2 laminar difference, and two‐dimensional measures of cartilage thickness. More compartments showed significantly higher superficial T2 than deep T2 values at baseline and 1‐year follow‐up compared to 2‐year follow‐up. No significant longitudinal changes of full‐thickness mean T2 and superficial T2 values were observed. Significant longitudinal changes were observed in the deep T2 values, T2 laminar difference, and percentage T2 laminar difference. Cartilage thickness had no influence on T2 analysis. Results of this study suggest that laminar analysis may improve the sensitivity to detect longitudinal T2 changes and that disruption of the T2 laminar organization of knee cartilage may be present in knee osteoarthritis progressors. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate the potential of the presented methodology to better characterize evolution and pathophysiology of osteoarthritis. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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