title: T2 mapping of the articular cartilage in the ankle: correlation to the status of anterior talofibular ligament.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate differences in T2 relaxation time of ankle cartilage using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) according to the status of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL).
  
  
  METHODS
  The talar trochlear cartilage (TTC) was evaluated in 52 patients with ankle pain that were categorized according to the status of ATFL; normal (NL; n = 23, mean age 40 years); partial tear (PT; n = 21, mean age 39 years); or complete tear (CT; n = 8, mean age 33 years). The TTC was divided into six compartments (medial anterior, medial centre, medial posterior, lateral anterior, lateral centre, and lateral posterior). The mean T2 value of each compartment was obtained using the multi-echo sequence. Data were analysed with parametric and non-parametric statistical tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean T2 values of the TTC showed significant differences between the three groups; NL, PT, and CT (p < 0.001). The T2 value between the three ligamentous groups were significantly different in the medial anterior, lateral anterior, and lateral centre compartments (p = 0.003, 0.002, 0.002, respectively). T2 values of the PT and CT groups were significantly higher than those of the NL group in the medial anterior compartment (p = 0.015, 0.002) and lateral anterior compartment (p = 0.026, <0.001). The T2 value of the CT group was significantly higher than that of NL and PT groups in the lateral centre compartment (p < 0.001, 0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The T2 value of the TTC in patients with ATFL injury increased at the medial anterior, lateral anterior, and lateral centre compartments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017844:Lateral Ligament, Ankle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult