MR microscopy of articular cartilage at 1.5 T: orientation and site dependence of laminar structures.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate MR microscopic images of normal-appearing porcine hyaline cartilage ( n=15) in vitro obtained with an MR microscope using an independent console system (MRMICS) at 1.5 T.


RESULTS
The MRMICS is a portable imaging system consisting of a radiofrequency system, gradient power supplies and a personal computer. The images from the MRMICS showed a laminar structure of porcine cartilage similar to the structure demonstrated with other MR imaging techniques. The laminar structures of the articular cartilage, were, however heterogeneous in respect of signal intensity and thickness, which varied according to the site resected. The MR laminar appearance was most comparable to the staining with Masson's trichrome for collagen.


CONCLUSIONS
MRMICS is a useful add-on system for obtaining microscopic MR images of articular cartilage in vitro.
Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan. hir-yosh@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
Hiroshi
H
Yoshioka
Tomoyuki
T
Haishi
Takaaki
T
Uematsu
Yoshimasa
Y
Matsuda
Izumi
I
Anno
Junko
J
Echigo
Philipp
P
Lang
Yuji
Y
Itai
Katsumi
K
Kose
D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013552:Swine