title: Medial meniscal posterior root/horn radial tears correlate with cartilage degeneration detected by T1ρ relaxation mapping.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify factors on routine pulse sequence MRI associated with cartilage degeneration observed on T1ρ relaxation mapping.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 137 subjects with knee pain. T1ρ values were measured in the regions of interest on the surface layer of the cartilage on mid-coronal images of the femorotibial joint. Assessment of cartilage, subchondral bone, meniscus and ligaments was performed using routine pulse sequence MRI. Radiographic evaluation for osteoarthritis was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression analysis revealed posterior root/horn tears to be independent factors increasing the T1ρ values of the cartilage in the medial compartment of the femorotibial joint. Even when adjusted for radiographically defined early-stage osteoarthritis, medial posterior meniscal radial tears significantly increased the T1ρ values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that posterior root/horn radial tears in the medial meniscus are particularly important MRI findings associated with cartilage degeneration observed on T1ρ relaxation mapping. Morphological factors of the medial meniscus on MRI provide findings useful for screening early-stage osteoarthritis.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan. Electronic address: Kenji-am@nms.ac.jp.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Takahashi
authors: Minami-Shinjuku Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Clinic, 2-16-7 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0053, Japan. Electronic address: info@msorc.jp.
authors: Sanshiro
authors: S
authors: Hashimoto
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan. Electronic address: nakamura@nms.ac.jp.
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Nakamura
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan. Electronic address: atsu@nms.ac.jp.
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Mori
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan. Electronic address: akiko-sato@nms.ac.jp.
authors: Akiko
authors: A
authors: Sato
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, 537-3 Iguchi, Nasu-shiobara, Tochigi 329-2763, Japan. Electronic address: tkmajima@iuhw.ac.jp.
authors: Tokifumi
authors: T
authors: Majima
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan. Electronic address: takai-snr@nms.ac.jp.
authors: Shinro
authors: S
authors: Takai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Cartilage; Knee; Magnetic resonance imaging; Osteoarthritis; T1ρ mapping