Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 12;10(1):2499. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59573-4.
Meniscus pathology may promote early osteoarthritis. This study assessed human meniscus functionality (i.e. its response to loading) ex vivo based on quantitative T1, T1ρ, and T2 mapping as a function of histological degeneration and loading. Forty-five meniscus samples of variable degeneration were harvested from the lateral meniscus body region of 45 patients during total knee arthroplasties. Samples underwent serial mapping on a 3.0-T MRI scanner (Achieva, Philips) using a force-controlled and torque-inducing compressive loading device. Samples were measured at three loading positions, i.e. unloaded, loaded to 2 bar (compression force 37 N) and 4 bar (69 N). Histology (Pauli classification) and biomechanics (Elastic Modulus) served as references. Based on histology, samples were trichotomized as grossly intact (n = 14), mildly degenerative (n = 16), and moderate-to-severely degenerative (n = 15) and analyzed using appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests. For T1, we found loading-induced decreases in all samples, irrespective of degeneration. For T1ρ, zonal increases in intact (apex) and decreases in degenerative samples (base) were found, while for T2, changes were ambiguous. In conclusion, force-controlled loading and serial MR imaging reveal response-to-loading patterns in meniscus. Zonal T1ρ response-to-loading patterns are most promising in differentiating degeneration, while T1 and T2 aren't clearly related to degeneration.and may provide an imaging-based indication of functional tissue properties.
半月板病变可能会导致早期骨关节炎。本研究旨在评估人类半月板的功能（即对负荷的反应），具体方法是基于定量 T1、T1ρ 和 T2 映射，作为组织退变和负荷的函数。在全膝关节置换术过程中，从 45 名患者的外侧半月板体区采集了 45 个变性程度不同的半月板样本。使用力控制和扭矩诱导压缩加载装置，在 3.0-T MRI 扫描仪（Achieva，Philips）上对样本进行连续映射。样本在三个加载位置进行测量，即未加载、加载至 2 巴（压缩力 37 N）和 4 巴（69 N）。组织学（Paul 分级）和生物力学（弹性模量）作为参考。根据组织学，样本被分为大体完整（n = 14）、轻度退变（n = 16）和中重度退变（n = 15），并使用适当的参数和非参数检验进行分析。对于 T1，我们发现所有样本在加载后都有降低，无论退变程度如何。对于 T1ρ，在完整样本（顶点）中发现了分区增加，而在退变样本（基底）中发现了减少，而对于 T2，变化则不明确。总之，力控制加载和连续 MRI 成像揭示了半月板的负荷反应模式。分区 T1ρ 对负荷的反应模式在区分退变方面最有前途，而 T1 和 T2 与退变不明显相关，可能为功能组织特性提供一种基于成像的指示。
