title: T2* mapping and delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in cartilage (dGEMRIC) of glenohumeral cartilage in asymptomatic volunteers at 3 T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish baseline T2* and T1Gd values of glenohumeral cartilage at 3 T.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty asymptomatic volunteers (mean age: 24.8 ± 2.2 years) without shoulder abnormalities were included. The MRI protocol comprised a double-echo steady-state (DESS) sequence for morphological cartilage evaluation, a gradient-echo multiecho sequence for T2* assessment, and a gradient-echo dual-flip-angle sequence for T1Gd mapping. Statistical assessment involved a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify the differences between various regions of the glenohumeral joint and intraclass correlation (ICC) analysis comparing repetitive T2* and T1Gd measures to assess intra- and interobserver reliability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both techniques revealed significant differences between superior and inferior glenohumeral cartilage demonstrating higher T2* (26.2 ms vs. 23.2 ms, P value < 0.001) and T1Gd (750.1 ms vs. 720.2 ms, P value = 0.014) values in the superior regions. No trend was observed in the anterior-posterior measurement (P value range: 0.279-1.000). High intra- and interobserver agreement (ICC value range: 0.895-0.983) was noted for both T2* and T1Gd mapping.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T2* and T1Gd mapping are reliable in the assessment of glenohumeral cartilage. The values from this study can be used for comparison to identify cartilage degeneration in patients suffering from shoulder joint abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • T2* mapping and dGEMRIC are sensitive to collagen degeneration and proteoglycan depletion. • This study aimed to establish baseline T2*/dGEMRIC values of glenohumeral cartilage. • Both techniques revealed significant differences between superior and inferior glenohumeral cartilage. • High intra-/interreader agreement was noted for both T2* mapping and dGEMRIC. • These baseline normal values should be useful when identifying potential degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, Department of Orthopedics, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. bbittersohl@partners.org
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bittersohl
authors.forename: Falk R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Miese
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dekkers
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Senyurt
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kircher
authors.forename: Hans-Jörg
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wittsack
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antoch
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krauspe
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zilkens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; C072417:gadoterate meglumine