RESUMO
Objective: To investigate magnetic resonance longitudinal relaxation time quantitative imaging (T1rho) and transverse relaxation time quantitative imaging (T2 mapping) techniques in evaluating cartilage damage in middle-aged and elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: To carry out this investigation, the researchers enrolled 65 OA patients subjects for the study. These patients were divided into 2 groups based on the severity of their OA. Thirty healthy individuals were included as the control group. All study participants underwent magnetic resonance T1rho and T2 mapping scans. OA patient scores and values from the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), T2, and a T1rho MRI measurement indicating potential early indication of bone and joint diseases from each cartilage area were compared among the OA patients as well as the control group. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between T2 and T1rho values and WOMAC scores. Results: The WOMAC scores in the mild OA group were lower than the severe OA group (P < .05). There were no significant differences in T2 and T1rho values of lateral tibial cartilage among the 3 groups (P > .05). On the other hand, the T2 and T1rho values of medial femoral, lateral femoral, and medial tibial cartilage areas increased progressively in the control, mild OA, and severe OA groups (P < .05). A Pearson analysis found a positive correlation between the T2 values of medial, lateral, and medial tibial cartilages and the WOMAC scores. Similarly, the T1rho values of these cartilage areas were also positively correlated with the WOMAC scores. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance T1rho and T2 mapping offer good evaluation value for assessing cartilage injury in middle-aged and elderly patients with knee OA. The values obtained from T1rho and T2 mapping in various areas of the cartilage show a positive correlation with WOMAC scores.