Towards a Dedicated DGEMRIC Protocol for Biochemical Imaging of the Menisci: Gd-DTPA(2-) Enhancement Kinetics in the Menisci of Asymptomatic Subjects

Marius E. Mayerhoefer¹, Georg Riegler¹, Tallal C. Mamisch², Goetz H. Welsch¹, Michael Weber¹, Sebastian Apprich¹, Siegfried Trattnig¹

We investigated the Gd-DTPA(2-) enhancement kinetics within the menisci of the knee joint over a period of 9 hours in six healthy volunteers. T1-weighted spin-echo sequences were obtained in half-hour intervals at 3.0 Tesla. Menisci were divided into a peripheral zone (outer one-third; vascularized red zone), and a central zone (inner two-thirds; moderately vascularized intermediate zone, and avascular white zone). In the peripheral zones, the enhancement occurred more rapidly than in the central zones. We observed the strongest enhancement between 3 and 4 hours after contrast media application. This time interval may thus be suitable for dGEMRIC of the menisci.