T2 mapping in patellar chondromalacia.
OBJECTIVE
To study the correlation between the T2 relaxation times of the patellar cartilage and morphological MRI findings of chondromalacia.


METHODS
This prospective study comprises 50 patients, 27 men and 23 women suffering of anterior knee pain (mean age: 29.7, SD 8.3 years; range: 16-45 years). MRI of 97 knees were performed in these patients at 1.5T magnet including sagittal T1, coronal intermediate, axial intermediate fat sat and T2 mapping. Chondromalacia was assessed using a modified version of Noyes classification. The relaxation time, T2, was studied segmenting the full thickness of the patellar cartilage in 12 areas: 4 proximal (external facet-proximal-lateral (EPL), external facet-proximal-central (EPC), internal facet-proximal-central (IPC), internal facet-proximal-medial (IPM), 4 in the middle section (external facet-middle-lateral (EML), external facet-middle-central (EMC), internal facet-middle-central (IMC), internal facet-middle-medial (IMM) and 4 distal (external facet-distal-lateral (EDL), external facet-distal-central (EDC), internal facet-distal-central (IDC), internal facet-distal-medial (IDM).


RESULTS
T2 values showed a significant increase in mild chondromalacia regarding normal cartilage in most of the cartilage areas (p<0.05), except in the internal distal facet (IDC and IDM), EPC, EDL, and IMM. Severe chondromalacia was characterized by a fall of T2 relaxation times with loss of statistical significant differences in comparison with normal cartilage, except in EMC and IMC, where similar values as mild chondromalacia were maintained (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Steepest increase in T2 values of patellar cartilage occurs in early stages of patellar cartilage degeneration. Progression of morphologic changes of chondromalacia to more severe degrees is associated to a new drop of T2 relaxation times approaching basal values in most of the areas of the patellar cartilage, except in the central area of the middle section, where T2 values remain increased.
Department of Radiology, Traumatology Hospital, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, SPAIN. Electronic address: ferusan12@gmail.com.
Fernando
F
Ruiz Santiago
Department of Rehabilitation and Physical therapy, Traumatology Hospital, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, SPAIN.
Rocío
R
Pozuelo Calvo
Department of Physic, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, SPAIN.
Julio
J
Almansa López
Department of Radiology, Traumatology Hospital, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, SPAIN.
Luis
L
Guzmán Álvarez
Department of Radiology, Traumatology Hospital, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, SPAIN.
María Del Mar
MDM
Castellano García
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D046789:Chondromalacia Patellae / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
Cartilage; Chondromalacia patellae; Magnetic resonance imaging; T2 mapping; T2 relaxation time