Renata La Rocca Vieira MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Leon David Rybak MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ligong Wang PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

James S. Babb PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gregory Chang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ravinder Regatte PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Assess the relationship between knee alignment and quantitative regional T1rho (ρ) values of the articular cartilage and menisci in patients with a clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis (OA)

26 weight-bearing knee radiographs and MRIs in 26 patients [13 males and 13 females (age range: 31- 89; mean 65.1 ± 11. 28 SD)] with clinical diagnosis of OA were retrospectively collected. Knee alignment was considered normal (n=13), valgus (n=7) or varus (n=6). MRIs were performed on a 3.0T scanner with an 8-channel phased array knee coil. 3D T1ρ-w images with parallel imaging (AF = 2) were acquired with TR/TE = 175/2.04 ms, spin-lock frequency = 300Hz, time of spin-lock = 2/10/20/30 ms, slice = 3 mm, matrix = 256X128, FOV = 15 cm, bdw = 260 Hz using the GRE sequence based on the spin-lock techniques. Each medial and lateral femur and tibial compartments were divided into anterior, central and posterior cartilage regions. The lateral and medial menisci were subdivided into anterior and posterior horns and body segment. The Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis.

The varus group had higher T1ρ values (69.29±8.74) at the anteromedial femoral cartilage than the valgus group (58.73±10.21), P=0.0482.The varus group had higher T1ρ values at central medial tibial region (MTc) (59.39±7.77) than central lateral tibial (LTc) cartilage (46.00±7.46), P=0.0158. The valgus group had higher T1ρ values (53.01±2.06) at anterolateral than anteromedial (43.44±5.68), P<0.0002.The normal group had higher T1ρ values (57.82±11.77) at MTc than LTc (49.86±7.57), P< 0.045). Normal group had higher T1ρ values (41.35± 9.20) at the posterior horn of the medial meniscus than the valgus group (30.77±5.80), P<0.0029. Normal group had higher T1ρ values at the body (35.63±6.52) and posterior horn (41.35±9.20) of the medial meniscus compared to the lateral meniscus

There is a relationship between knee alignment and T1 rho values for cartilage and menisci in patients with clinical OA. Patients with varus alignment have increased T1 rho values of the cartilage of the medial compartment.

Understanding the relationship between knee alignment and OA would help in the development of new perspectives for early OA treatment

Vieira, R, Rybak, L, Wang, L, Babb, J, Chang, G, Regatte, R, Relationship between Knee Alignment and T1 rho Values of Articular Cartilage and Menisci in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9007329.html