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7 Tesla quantitative hip MRI: T1, T2 and T2* mapping of hip cartilage in healthy volunteers

  • Musculoskeletal
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the technical feasibility and applicability of quantitative MR techniques (delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC), T2 mapping, T2* mapping) at 7 T MRI for assessing hip cartilage.

Methods

Hips of 11 healthy volunteers were examined at 7 T MRI with an 8-channel radiofrequency transmit/receive body coil using multi-echo sequences for T2 and T2* mapping and a dual flip angle gradient-echo sequence before (T10) and after intravenous contrast agent administration (T1Gd; 0.2 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA2− followed by 0.5 h of walking and 0.5 h of rest) for dGEMRIC. Relaxation times of cartilage were measured manually in 10 regions of interest. Pearson’s correlations between R1delta = 1/T1Gd − 1/T10 and T1Gd and between T2 and T2* were calculated. Image quality and the delineation of acetabular and femoral cartilage in the relaxation time maps were evaluated using discrete rating scales.

Results

High correlations were found between R1delta and T1Gd and between T2 and T2* relaxation times (all p < 0.01). All techniques delivered diagnostic image quality, with best delineation of femoral and acetabular cartilage in the T2* maps (mean 3.2 out of a maximum of 4 points).

Conclusions

T1, T2 and T2* mapping of hip cartilage with diagnostic image quality is feasible at 7 T. To perform dGEMRIC at 7 T, pre-contrast T1 mapping can be omitted.

Key Points

• dGEMRIC of hip cartilage with diagnostic image quality is feasible at 7 T.

• To perform dGEMRIC at 7 T, pre-contrast T1 mapping can be omitted.

• T2(*) mapping of hip cartilage with diagnostic image quality is feasible at 7 T.

• T2 and T2* relaxation times of cartilage were highly correlated at 7 T.

• Best delineation of femoral and acetabular cartilage was found in T2* maps.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

body mass index

dGEMRIC:

delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage

DREAM:

dual refocusing echo acquisition mode

FOV:

field of view

FLASH:

fast low angle shot

MRI:

magnetic resonance imaging

RF:

radiofrequency

ROI:

region of interest

SAR:

specific absorption rate

SD:

standard deviation

SNR:

signal-to-noise ratio

T:

Tesla

TI:

inversion time

TE:

echo time

TR:

repetition time

UHF:

ultra-high field

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Desmond Tse (Maastricht University, The Netherlands) for providing the source code of the DREAM sequence.

This work was supported by a research grant of the University Duisburg-Essen, Germany, awarded to the first author.

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Dr. med. Andrea Lazik. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. This study has received funding from the University of Duisburg-Essen: A research grant (“IFORES”) was awarded to the first author. No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study. No study subjects or cohorts have been previously reported. Methodology: prospective, experimental, performed at one institution.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany

    Andrea Lazik, Jens M. Theysohn, Christina Geis & Mark E. Ladd

  2. Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

    Sören Johst, Mark E. Ladd, Harald H. Quick & Oliver Kraff

  3. Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany

    Mark E. Ladd

  4. High Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany

    Harald H. Quick

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  1. Andrea Lazik
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  2. Jens M. Theysohn
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  3. Christina Geis
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  4. Sören Johst
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  7. Oliver Kraff
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Correspondence to Andrea Lazik.

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Lazik, A., Theysohn, J.M., Geis, C. et al. 7 Tesla quantitative hip MRI: T1, T2 and T2* mapping of hip cartilage in healthy volunteers. Eur Radiol 26, 1245–1253 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3964-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3964-0

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