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Abstract #3179

T2 Signal and Orientation Changes Are Early Indicators of Cartilage Degeneration.

Kelsey Mairead Mountain1,2, Tadeusz Foniok3, Jeff Dunn, 1,3, John Robert Matyas, 2,4

1Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 2McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 3National Research Council Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 4Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada


The superficial zone of articular cartilage is a dense network of ordered collagen fibres running parallel to the articular surface. The initial histopathological changes of osteoarthritis (OA) occur at this surface; and if detected, could provide insight into OA progression. High-field MRI can detect collagen organization based on changes in T2 relaxation. In this study, T2 was used to assess articular cartilage surface collagen in an animal model of osteoarthritis.

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