PURPOSE

To assess the T ρ and T values in the hip cartilage of healthy volunteers and to evaluate the reproducibility of these measurements.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The right hip joint of 30 asymptomatic volunteers was explored with 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Quantitative 3D T ρ- and T -maps sequences were repeated twice with a 30-minute delay (immediate reproducibility). The same protocol was repeated 14 days later (short-term reproducibility). Immediate and short-term reproducibility were estimated using coefficients of variation and correlation concordance coefficients (CCC). The precisions of the measurements were estimated by the ratio of the standard deviations. A mixed linear model was used to analyze the effect of patient's characteristics on T ρ and T values.

RESULTS

Immediate reproducibility was significantly better than short-term reproducibility for T ρ (CCC of 0.75 versus 0.55; P = 0.007) and T (CCC 0.65 versus 0.32; P < 0.001). The precisions of the measurements were estimated between 5.5% and 9.1%. Median T ρ values were 6.0 msec higher in women than in men (P = 0.006), with no significant influence of age, body mass index (BMI), or sports activity. Median T values were not significantly different between men and women (0.4 msec lower in women; P = 0.76). There was no significant influence of age, BMI, or sports activity. T ρ and T values were lower in lateral regions than in medial regions (4.9 msec and 2.5 msec lower respectively; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Immediate reproducibility of T ρ and T values is better than short-term, with limited effect of 30 minutes decubitus. T ρ values are significantly higher in women.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1022-1033.