A Novel T2 Mapping Approach That Can Evaluate Magic Angle Effect and T2 Relaxation Time in Normal Knee Cartilage of Patients from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Scott M. Somers¹, Peter Pham², Nirmalya Ghosh¹, Hiroshi Yoshioka²

Because T2 relaxation time increases in cartilage before morphologic changes are visible, understanding the normal profile in cartilage is essential to identifying early disease. Using custom software, we measured T2 relaxation time in 5 degree segments for deep, superficial, and full thickness cartilage of the medial femoral condyle in 105 patients using a novel T2 mapping approach. The results of this study emphasize the importance of evaluating deep and superficial cartilage separately, as well as considering orientation of the cartilage to the main magnetic field when T2 mapping is used for diagnosis of cartilage disease.