Abstract #3003

Correlation time mapping of degenerated human and bovine articular cartilage reveals tissue structure and degenerative changes

Hassaan Elsayed^1,2,3,4, Matti Hanni^2,3,4, Jari Rautiainen^2,3,5, Mikko Johannes Nissi^5,6, and Miika Nieminen^2,3,4

¹Computer Science and Engineering, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland, ²Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland, ³Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland, ⁴Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland, ⁵Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, ⁶Diagnostic Imaging Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

Correlation time ($$$\tau_c$$$) maps were obtained by fitting $$$\tau_c$$$ from $$$T_{1\rho}$$$ dispersion measurements of human articular cartilage specimens and enzymatically digested bovine samples to develop a new MRI contrast which characterizes tissue properties at molecular level. $$$\tau_c$$$ revealed the laminar appearance in control and PG depleted bovine specimens, which was not observable in the collagen-digested specimens. The laminar appearance was also visible in the early OA human specimens, in contrast to the advanced OA group. The results demonstrated that $$$\tau_c$$$ mapping is a potential method for providing information about the articular cartilage structure and associated changes with degeneration.

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