Age-related quantitative MRI changes in healthy cartilage: preliminary results.
OBJECTIVE
As the early form of OA is characterized by elevated water content in the cartilage tissue, the purpose of this study was to verify in vivo if age-related changes in patellar cartilage in healthy volunteers can be detected using quantitative MRI with T2 mapping and volume measurement MRI methods.


METHODS
Thirty healthy volunteers of various classes of age (18 to 65 years old) were enrolled in this study. MR images of the patellar cartilage were acquired at 1.5T. Patellar cartilage volume and T2 maps were determined.


RESULTS
Despite non-significance, there was a trend in reducing cartilage volume with ageing (r: -0.25). In contrast global T2 slightly increased with ageing (r: 0.46). BMI (r: 0.51) and bone volume (r: 0.69) are well correlated to cartilage volume. CONCLUSION. Age-related physiologic changes in the water content of patellar cartilage can be detected using MRI. The proposed T2-mapping method, coupled with other non-invasive MR cartilage imaging techniques, could aid in the early diagnosis of OA.
Goebel
Jean Christophe
JC
Department of Pharmacology, Faculté de Médecine, UMR 7561 CNRS University Nancy I, Avenue de la Forêt de Haye, 54505 Vandoeuvre lès Nancy, France.
Watrin-Pinzano
Astrid
A
Bettembourg-Brault
Isabelle
I
Odille
Freddy
F
Felblinger
Jacques
J
Chary-Valckenaere
Isabelle
I
Netter
Patrick
P
Blum
Alain
A
Gillet
Pierre
P
Loeuille
Damien
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology