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.
Yoshioka
Hiroshi
H
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
Haishi
Tomoyuki
T
Uematsu
Takaaki
T
Matsuda
Yoshimasa
Y
Anno
Izumi
I
Echigo
Junko
J
Lang
Philipp
P
Itai
Yuji
Y
Kose
Katsumi
K
D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013552:Swine