Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, MC-114, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA.
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, 9427 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0997, USA.
Skeletal Radiol. 2021 Dec;50(12):2405-2414. doi: 10.1007/s00256-021-03808-6. Epub 2021 May 13.
To determine the ability of conventional spin echo (SE) T2 and ultrashort echo time (UTE) T2* relaxation times to characterize pathology in cadaveric meniscus samples.
From 10 human donors, 54 triangular (radially cut) meniscus samples were harvested. Meniscal pathology was classified as normal (n = 17), intrasubstance degenerated (n = 33), or torn (n = 4) using a modified arthroscopic grading system. Using a 3-T MR system, SE T2 and UTE T2* values of the menisci were determined, followed by histopathology. Effect of meniscal pathology on relaxation times and histology scores were determined, along with correlation between relaxation times and histology scores.
Mean ± standard deviation UTE T2* values for normal, degenerated, and torn menisci were 3.6 ± 1.3 ms, 7.4 ± 2.5 ms, and 9.8 ± 5.7 ms, respectively, being significantly higher in degenerated (p < 0.0001) and torn (p = 0.0002) menisci compared to that in normal. In contrast, the respective mean SE T2 values were 27.7 ± 9.5 ms, 25.9 ± 7.0 ms, and 35.7 ± 10.4 ms, without significant differences between groups (all p > 0.14). In terms of histology, we found significant group-wise differences (each p < 0.05) in fiber organization and inner-tip surface integrity sub-scores, as well as the total score. Finally, we found a significant weak correlation between UTE T2* and histology total score (p = 0.007, R = 0.19), unlike the correlation between SE T2 and histology (p = 0.09, R = 0.05).
UTE T2* values were found to distinguish normal from both degenerated and torn menisci and correlated significantly with histopathology.
确定常规自旋回波（SE）T2 和超短回波时间（UTE）T2*弛豫时间在尸体半月板样本中对病理的特征化能力。
从 10 名供体中，采集了 54 个三角形（放射状切开）半月板样本。使用改良关节镜分级系统，将半月板病理分为正常（n=17）、实质内退变（n=33）或撕裂（n=4）。使用 3T MR 系统，确定半月板的 SE T2 和 UTE T2* 值，随后进行组织病理学检查。确定半月板病理对弛豫时间和组织学评分的影响，以及弛豫时间与组织学评分之间的相关性。
正常、退变和撕裂的半月板的平均 UTE T2* 值分别为 3.6±1.3ms、7.4±2.5ms 和 9.8±5.7ms，退变（p<0.0001）和撕裂（p=0.0002）半月板明显高于正常半月板。相比之下，各自的平均 SE T2 值分别为 27.7±9.5ms、25.9±7.0ms 和 35.7±10.4ms，各组间无显著差异（均 p>0.14）。在组织学方面，我们发现各组间纤维组织和内尖表面完整性亚评分以及总评分均有显著差异（均 p<0.05）。最后，我们发现 UTE T2* 与组织学总评分之间存在显著的弱相关性（p=0.007，R=0.19），而 SE T2 与组织学之间无相关性（p=0.09，R=0.05）。
UTE T2* 值可区分正常与退变和撕裂半月板，并与组织病理学显著相关。
