3T MR Imaging of the Pediatric Cartilage Using 3D Dual Echo Steady State (DESS)

Hyaline cartilage development is essential in pediatric musculoskeletal growth. Although in an adult patient, we focus solely on the articular cartilage, in the pediatric population, the articular, epiphysial and physial cartilage play an important role in skeletal maturation. The epiphysial and physial cartilage participate in enchondral ossification and contribute to a child’s longitudinal growth while the articular cartilage buffers and transmits forces across joints. Although functionally and anatomically different, the three different types of cartilage in the pediatric population are histologically alike.