Andrea Lazik MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Oliver Kraff MSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Konrad Koersmeier, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stefan Landgraeber, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas C. Lauenstein MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jens Matthias Theysohn MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Matrix based autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT) has become common in the therapy of focal cartilage lesions in the knee and can be monitored by high resolution MR imaging and quantitative MR analysis, such as delayed gadolinium enhanced MR imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC). This T1 mapping technique represents the glycosaminoglycane content of the cartilage. MACT is an upcoming therapy for focal cartilage lesions in the hip as well, with only few publications up to now. The aim of this study was to follow up patients after acetabular MACT with high resolution MRI and to evaluate the potential of dGEMRIC in imaging cartilage transplants in the hip.

24 patients were examined 6 – 31 months after acetabular MACT using 3D as well as sagittal and coronal 2D high-resolution proton density weighted (PD) sequences (slice thickness 2.5 mm, in plane resolution 0.5 x 0.5 mm and 0.8 x 0.8 mm, respectively), and furthermore 3D T1 mapping in dGEMRIC technique at 3 Tesla. The cartilage transplant was evaluated using an adapted MOCART score (maximum 85 points). T1 relaxation times were measured in the cartilage transplant and adjacent healthy regions. Correlations between the registered parameters were calculated using the Spearman rank correlation.

The cartilage transplant was morphologically definable in the PD-weighted sequences of 23 patients with a mean MOCART score of 69 points (60 – 80 points, SD 6.5). In T1 maps clear differentiation between acetabular and femoral cartilage was possible, but correlation with PD-weighted images was necessary in order to identify the transplant. A statistically significant correlation was found between T1 relaxation times of the transplant and the adjacent healthy cartilage (616.4 ms vs. 574.5 ms; p = 0.011), but not between MOCART score and T1 relaxation times of the transplant.

High-resolution PD-weighted imaging with adapted MOCART scoring and dGEMRIC are feasible after acetabular MACT. Further studies with long-term clinical follow-up are necessary to verify the efficacy of these techniques for the prognosis of acetabular MACT.

dGEMRIC has the potential to become a complementary technique in the assessment of cartilage transplant vitality in the hip.

Lazik, A, Kraff, O, Koersmeier, K, Landgraeber, S, Lauenstein, T, Theysohn, J, MRI in the Follow Up of Patients after Matrix Based Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation of the Hip Using 3 Tesla High Resolution Techniques and dGEMRIC.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14006426.html