Ultra High Field MRI gives the opportunity to study in vivo articular cartilage with optimal signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution in comparison with lower field strength systems. We obtained the mean T2 and T2* maps values for under and over 50 years aged healthy subjects, both mean values increase with the subjects' age. With dedicated multichannel coils and specific cartilage sequences, it is possible to make both a qualitative and a quantitative evaluation of early and pre-clinical cartilage ageing-related changes in estimating the water content and the integrity of the cartilage matrix.
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