Ultra-short TE-enhanced T2* mapping of cartilage

Fig 3 – PLM from sites 1 (a) and 2 (b), shown at the same magnification. Cartilage at site 1 is much thinner than site 2. Arrows indicate bone/cartilage interface. Site 1 exhibits an amorphous, deeply fibrillated collagen matrix with a weakly stained deep radial zone suggesting low collagen density adjacent to bone. Site 2 shows disorganization in the thin superficial zone and a more uniformly organized collagen arrangement in the thick transitional zone. The deep radial zone at site 2 is strongly stained and demonstrates a highly ordered matrix with the prevailing orientation appearing tangential to the bone surface. Fig 1 – (a) T2 and (b) UTE-enhanced T2* maps of a human tibial plateau. White boxes depict sites of osteochondral cores assessed with OCT and histology. T2* values are lower and show a different pattern of laminae than standard T2, however, the zonal stratification exhibited by T2* is similar to the collagen matrix arrangement depicted by PLM (Fig 4). At site 2, the pattern of low T2* in a thin superficial zone above higher, more homogeneous T2* in a thick transitional zone resembles the collagen structure seen by PLM. Likewise, a focal high T2* lesion seen at site 1 corresponds to collagen matrix derangement by PLM but is not obvious by standard T2. T2*, ms T2, ms 0 25 51 76 103 130