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European Radiology

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01-04-2015 | Musculoskeletal

Characterization of the collagen component of cartilage repair tissue of the talus with quantitative MRI: comparison of T2 relaxation time measurements with a diffusion-weighted double-echo steady-state sequence (dwDESS)

Authors: M. Kretzschmar, O. Bieri, M. Miska, M. Wiewiorski, N. Hainc, V. Valderrabano, U. Studler

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to characterize the collagen component of repair tissue (RT) of the talus after autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) using quantitative T2 and diffusion-weighted imaging.

Methods

Mean T2 values and diffusion coefficients of AMIC-RT and normal cartilage of the talus of 25 patients with posttraumatic osteochondral lesions and AMIC repair were compared in a cross-sectional design using partially spoiled steady-state free precession (pSSFP) for T2 quantification, and diffusion-weighted double-echo steady-state (dwDESS) for diffusion measurement. RT and cartilage were graded with modified Noyes and MOCART scores on morphological sequences. An association between follow-up interval and quantitative MRI measures was assessed using multivariate regression, after stratifying the cohort according to time interval between surgery and MRI.

Results

Mean T2 of the AMIC-RT and cartilage were 43.1 ms and 39.1 ms, respectively (p = 0.26). Mean diffusivity of the RT (1.76 μm²/ms) was significantly higher compared to normal cartilage (1.46 μm²/ms) (p = 0.0092). No correlation was found between morphological and quantitative parameters. RT diffusivity was lowest in the subgroup with follow-up >28 months (p = 0.027).

Conclusions

Compared to T2-mapping, dwDESS demonstrated greater sensitivity in detecting differences in the collagen matrix between AMIC-RT and cartilage. Decreased diffusivity in patients with longer follow-up times may indicate an increased matrix organization of RT.

Key Points

• MRI is used to assess morphology of the repair tissue during follow-up.

• Quantitative MRI allows an estimation of biochemical properties of the repair tissue.

• Differences between repair tissue and cartilage were more significant with dwDESS than T2 mapping.

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Title: Characterization of the collagen component of cartilage repair tissue of the talus with quantitative MRI: comparison of T2 relaxation time measurements with a diffusion-weighted double-echo steady-state sequence (dwDESS)
Authors: M. Kretzschmar
O. Bieri
M. Miska
M. Wiewiorski
N. Hainc
V. Valderrabano
U. Studler
Publication date: 01-04-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3490-5

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Characterization of the collagen component of cartilage repair tissue of the talus with quantitative MRI: comparison of T2 relaxation time measurements with a diffusion-weighted double-echo steady-state sequence (dwDESS)

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key Points

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key Points

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