title: Delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and morphologic MRI of cartilage in the long-term follow-up after Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) in the detection of cartilage changes versus morphologic imaging in the long-term course of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 31 hips in 26 patients (mean age, 30.0years; range, 18-54years) who were diagnosed with LCPD in childhood were included. Twenty-one radiographically normal contralateral hips served as controls. dGEMRIC indices of femoral and acetabular cartilage in the weight-bearing zone. Cartilage morphology was classified on radial PD-weighted images according to the modified Outerbridge classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean dGEMRIC values of cartilage were significantly lower in hips after LCPD than in the radiographically normal contralateral hips (513±100 ms vs. 579±103 ms; P=0.026). In 24 out of 31 LCPD hips and in 4 out of 21 radiographically normal contralateral hips, morphological cartilage changes were noted. Analysis of variance analysis revealed a significant influence of Outerbridge grading on decreased T1-values (P=0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that dGEMRIC at 1.5 T is suitable to assess cartilage quality changes in the long-term follow-up after LCPD. The evaluation of biochemical cartilage quality with dGEMRIC may provide additional information about early cartilage changes occurring without visible alterations of cartilage morphology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holstein
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zilkens
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bittersohl
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haamberg
authors.forename: Tallal C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mamisch
authors.forename: Rotem S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lanzman
authors.forename: Patric
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kröpil
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blondin
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krauspe
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antoch
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fürst
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007873:Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA