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Detection of early cartilage damage: feasibility and potential of gagCEST imaging at 7T

OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to implement a fast 3D glycosaminoglycan Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (gagCEST) sequence at 7 T, test stability and reproducibility in cartilage in the knee in healthy volunteers, and evaluate clinical applicability in cartilage repair patients. METHODS: Experime...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Brinkhof, Sander, Nizak, Razmara, Khlebnikov, Vitaliy, Prompers, Jeanine J., Klomp, Dennis W.J., Saris, Daniel B.F.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5986839/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29383528
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-5277-y
Descripción
Sumario:OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to implement a fast 3D glycosaminoglycan Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (gagCEST) sequence at 7 T, test stability and reproducibility in cartilage in the knee in healthy volunteers, and evaluate clinical applicability in cartilage repair patients. METHODS: Experiments were carried out on a 7-T scanner using a volume transmit coil and a 32-channel receiver wrap-around knee coil. The 3D gagCEST measurement had an acquisition time of 7 min. Signal stability and reproducibility of the GAG effect were assessed in eight healthy volunteers. Clinical applicability of the method was demonstrated in five patients before cartilage repair surgery. RESULTS: Coefficient of variation of the gagCEST signal was 1.9%. The reproducibility of the GAG effect measurements was good in the medial condyle (ICC = 0.87) and excellent in the lateral condyle (ICC = 0.97). GAG effect measurements in healthy cartilage ranged from 2.6%-12.4% compared with 1.3%-5.1% in damaged cartilage. Difference in GAG measurement between healthy cartilage and damaged cartilage was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A fast 3D gagCEST sequence was applied at 7 T for use in cartilage in the knee, acquired within a clinically feasible scan time of 7 min. We demonstrated that the method has high stability, reproducibility and clinical applicability. KEY POINTS: • gagCEST measurements are stable and reproducible • A non-invasive GAG measurement with gagCEST can be acquired in 7 min • gagCEST is able to discriminate between healthy and damaged cartilage ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00330-017-5277-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.