Daniel Ross Thedens1, Sirisha Tadimalla2, James A. Martin2, Annunziato Amendola2, Douglas R. Pedersen2
1Radiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; 2Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
T1ρ imaging has shown promise as a sensitive indicator of changes in proteoglycan (PG) content in tissues. In this study, a single mechanical impact model was used to observe the PG changes in fresh human cartilage and to assess the ability of T1ρ imaging to accurately detect and portray PG depletion. T1ρ relaxation correlated well with PG measurements, furthering the hypothesis that PG depletion resulting from mechanical impact or injury can be assessed noninvasively with T1ρ imaging.
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