[Morphological and functional cartilage imaging].

Excellent morphological imaging of cartilage is now possible and allows the detection of subtle cartilage pathologies. Besides the standard 2D sequences, a multitude of 3D sequences are available for high-resolution cartilage imaging. The first part therefore deals with modern possibilities of morphological imaging. The second part deals with functional cartilage imaging with which it is possible to detect changes in cartilage composition and thus early osteoarthritis as well as to monitor biochemical changes after therapeutic interventions. Validated techniques such as delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and T2 mapping as well the latest techniques, such as the glycosaminoglycan chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer (gagCEST) technique will be discussed.