In this study subjects with asymptomatic FAI and healthy controls underwent PET-MRI to investigate hip bone activity (by [18F]-Sodium Fluoride (NaF) PET) and hip cartilage proteoglycan content (by MRI T1ρ mapping). The FAI subjects showed an increased [18F]-NaF uptake in the femoral head neck junction and in lateral area of the acetabulum, indicating increased bone remodelling. Hip cartilage T1ρ values were significantly higher in the anterior-lateral region for the FAI group, revealing a loss of proteoglycan with a possible connection to an early osteoarthritis stage. PET-MRI has potential to be a useful non-invasive tool to research FAI in vivo.
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