title: [3T magnetic resonance T2 mapping for evaluation of cartilage repair after matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping in quantitative evaluation of cartilage repair following matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients (with 9 plug cartilages) following MACT underwent MRI on a 3.0 Tesla MR scan system at 3, 6 and 12 months after the surgery. The full-thickness and zonal areas (deep and superficial layers) T2 values were calculated for the repaired cartilage and control cartilage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean T2 values of the repaired cartilage after MACT were significantly higher than that of the control cartilages at 3 and 6 months (P<0.05), but not at 12 months (P=0.063). At 6 and 12 months, the T2 values of the superficial layers were significantly higher than those of the deep layers in the repaired cartilages (P<0.05). The zonal (deep and superficial layers) T2 values of the repaired cartilages decreased significantly over time at 6 and 12 months as compared to those at 3 months after the surgery (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI T2 mapping can serve as an important modality for assessing the repair of the articular cartilage following MACT.
authors.affiliation: South Building Department of Radiology, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100853, China. zhangjun_mri@l63.com
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tian-Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Pan-Li
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Ning-Yu
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous