The purpose of this study was to validate the 7T 3D gagCEST measurements obtained in patients in vivo, using correlation of MRI GAG values with electromechanical mapping of the articular cartilage and biochemical analyses. Five patients were scanned before their total knee replacement, after which the extracted cartilage samples were used for electromechanical mapping and biochemical analyses. GAG content as determined by gagCEST MRI shows to be significantly correlated with biochemically measured GAG dry weight and with electromechanical mapping. This work shows that the electromechanical properties of cartilage are correlated with gagCEST MRI values.
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