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Abstract #3990

Ultra-Short TE-Enhanced T2* Mapping of Cartilage

Ashley Williams1, Yongxian Qian2, David Bear1, Fernando Boada2, Constance Chu1

1Cartilage Restoration Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 2MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA


Ultra-short TE-enhanced T2* mapping permits detection of short T2 components in articular cartilage that are not well-captured by standard T2 mapping. This study compared T2 and T2* maps to spatially registered microscopic optical coherence tomography and polarized light micrscopy examinations (PLM) of explanted human tibial plateau cartilage. Zonal stratifications observed on T2* maps and OCT were similar to those observed within the collagen matrix arrangement seen by PLM. Focal T2* lesions within the transitional zone corresponded to areas of collagen matrix derangement. High-resolution UTE-enhanced T2* mapping discriminates normal from abnormal collagen architecture in vitro.