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Interphalangeal Joint Cartilage: High-Spatial-Resolution in Vivo MR T2 Mapping—A Feasibility Study¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Pennsylvania State University Center for NMR Research, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Dr, Hershey, PA 17033 (J.L.S., T.J.M., Q.X.Y., M.B.S.); Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa (H.E.S.); and Departments of Radiology, Pediatrics, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Imaging Research Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (B.J.D.). Received November 6, 2003; revision requested January 28, 2004; revision received January 30; accepted February 17. T.J.M. and B.J.D. supported by the Arthritis Foundation and National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Address correspondence to T.J.M. (e-mail: tmosher@psu.edu).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) T2 mapping of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the index finger. Cartilage T2 maps with an in-plane resolution of 39 µm were obtained from five asymptomatic subjects—four men and one woman, aged 24–45 years—by using a 3.0-T MR imager. Image acquisition time was 9.6 minutes. All cartilage T2 maps demonstrated spatial variation similar to that reported previously for knee cartilage, with T2 values increasing toward the articular surface. These results demonstrate the feasibility of acquiring cartilage T2 maps of small joints in the hand. Application of T2 mapping techniques to non–weight-bearing joints may provide a means for differentiation of local biomechanical and systemic factors that can affect cartilage T2 values.

© RSNA, 2004

Index terms: Arthritis, 437.772 • Hand, arthritis, 437.772 • Hand, MR, 437.121411 • Magnetic resonance (MR), arthrography • Magnetic resonance (MR), high resolution