Functional MRI Mapping of Human Meniscus Functionality and its Relation to Degeneration
Scientific Reports, vol. 10, pp. 2499
Abstract
Meniscus pathology may promote early osteoarthritis. This study assessed human meniscus functionality (i.e. its response to loading) ex vivo based on quantitative T1, T1ρ, and T2 mapping as a function of histological degeneration and loading. Forty-five meniscus samples of variable degeneration were harvested from the lateral meniscus body region of 45 patients during total knee arthroplasties. Samples underwent serial mapping on a 3.0-T MRI scanner (Achieva, Philips) using a force-controlled and torque-inducing compressive loading device. Samples were measured at three loading positions, i.e. unloaded, loaded to 2 bar (compression force 37 N) and 4 bar (69 N). Histology (Pauli classification) and biomechanics (Elastic Modulus) served as references. Based on histology, samples were trichotomized as grossly intact (n = 14), mildly degenerative (n = 16), and moderate-to-severely degenerative (n = 15) and analyzed using appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests. For T1, we found loading-induced decreases in all samples, irrespective of degeneration. For T1ρ, zonal increases in intact (apex) and decreases in degenerative samples (base) were found, while for T2, changes were ambiguous. In conclusion, force-controlled loading and serial MR imaging reveal response-to-loading patterns in meniscus. Zonal T1ρ response-to-loading patterns are most promising in differentiating degeneration, while T1 and T2 aren't clearly related to degeneration.and may provide an imaging-based indication of functional tissue properties.
Authors 10
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Düsseldorf University Hospital · Universitätsklinikum Aachen
Affiliation as printed
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany. sven.nebelung@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. sven.nebelung@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Düsseldorf University Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Hamburg University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Continuum and Materials Mechanics, Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Clinic for Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland
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Düsseldorf University Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Department and Hiller-Research-Unit for Rheumatology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Daniel Truhn Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Institute of Computer Vision and Imaging
Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
Institute of Computer Vision and Imaging, RWTH University Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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