Reproducibility of dGEMRIC in assessment of hip joint cartilage: A prospective study

Abstract

Purpose:To investigate the reproducibility of dGEMRIC in the assessment of cartilage health of the adult asymptomatic hip joint. Materials and Methods:Fifteen asymptomatic volunteers (mean age, 26.3 years Ϯ 3.0) were preliminarily studied. Any volunteer that was incidentally diagnosed with damaged cartilage on MRI (n ϭ 5) was excluded. Ten patients that had no evidence of prior cartilage damage (mean age, 26.2 years Ϯ 3.4) were evaluated further in this study. The reproducibility of dGEMRIC was assessed with two T1 Gd exams performed 4 weeks apart in these volunteers. The protocol involved an initial standard MRI to confirm healthy cartilage, which was then followed by dGEMRIC. The second scan included only the repeat dGEMRIC. Region of interest (ROI) analyses for T1 Gd -measurement was performed in seven radial reformats. Statistical analysis included the student's t-test and intra-class correlation (ICC) measurement to assess reproducibility. Results:Overall 70 ROIs were studied. Mean cartilage T1 Gd values at various loci ranged from 560.9 ms to 684.4 ms at the first set of readings and 551.5 ms to 662.2 ms in the second one. The mean difference per region of interest between the two T1 Gd -measurements ranged from 21.4 ms (3.7%) to 45.0 ms (6.8%), which was not found to be statistically significant (P ϭ 0.153). There was a high reproducibility detected (ICC range, 0.667-0.915). Intra-and Inter-observer analyses proved a high agreement for T1 Gd assessment (0.973 and 0.932). Conclusion:We found dGEMRIC to be a reliable tool in the assessment of cartilage health status in adult hip joints.

Magnetic resonance imaging of hip joint cartilage and labrum

“…Bittersohl et al proved this technique to be a reliable instrument in the assessment of asymptomatic hip joint cartilage. 117 In a pilot study Bittersohl et al proved the feasibility of cartilage assessment in symptomatic FAI patients using intra-articular delayed Gadolinium Enhanced MRI of Cartilage (iadGEMRIC). 118 In another study Bittersohl et al 119 found that mapping with both ivdGEMRIC and ia-dGEMRIC demonstrated obvious differences between various grades of cartilage degeneration.…”

Femoroacetabular Impingement: Evidence of an Established Hip Abnormality

“…As a next imaging modality, CT-especially in combination with dynamic computerized analysis-enables excellent visualization of the three-dimensional osseous anatomy ( 30,42 ). This could enhance understanding of the underlying hip disease in a patient and sensitize the treating physician so that he or she could recognize the importance of subtle deformities.…”

Regional Articular Cartilage Abnormalities of the Hip

“…Because of their negative charge, glycosaminoglycans repulse the negatively charged contrast agent; thus, in areas with depleted glycosaminoglycan concentration, an accumulation of contrast material can be detected [49]. Already established in knee research [50,51], these observations were reproduced in the hip [52]. However, an IV injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine is A B required followed by temporary exercise to distribute the gadolinium.…”