Kathryn E. Keenan1, Thor F. Besier2, R. Lane Smith1, 3, John M. Pauly1, Scott L. Delp1, Gary S. Beaupre3, Garry E. Gold1
1Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; 2University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; 3Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto, CA, United States
ΔT1ρ, a simple measure of T1ρ dispersion, can predict changes in cartilage modulus and macromolecular content when there is no visible cartilage damage on conventional MR. We define ΔT1ρ as the difference between T1ρ relaxation times at two spin-lock frequencies. For this cadaveric patellae study, initial elastic modulus, T1ρ relaxation times at 0, 500 and 1000 Hz and macromolecular contents were measured. Initial elastic modulus decreased with increasing ΔT1ρ when there was no visible cartilage damage on conventional MR (p<0.05). ΔT1ρ has clinical potential to advance the understanding of osteoarthritis by predicting changes in cartilage modulus and macromolecular content in vivo.