Intra-Articular DGEMRIC: Contrast Concentration in Joint Cavity May Impact Cartilage T1 Measurements

Wei Li¹, Martin Lazarus¹, Jason Koh², Ewa Gliwa¹, Pottumarthi Vara Prasad¹

Based on the logistical advantage of the ia-dGEMRIC over the iv-dGEMRIC, we conducted a preliminary trial using ia-dGEMRIC to assess biochemical changes in cartilage in 39 patients with hip pain who underwent MR-arthrography at our institution. The T1 of articular cartilage was moderately correlated with T1 of joint fluid. This finding suggests that in ia-dGEMRIC, the cartilage T1 measurements may not be specifically related to the proteoglycan (PG) content in the cartilage, but may also reflect the contrast concentration in articular cavity. This will impact the interpretation of T1 values observed and inter-subject comparisons in articular cartilage