Delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the meniscus (dGEMRIM) in patients with knee osteoarthritis: relation with meniscal degeneration on conventional MRI, reproducibility, and correlation with dGEMRIC

To assess (1) whether normal and degenerated menisci exhibit different T1(GD) on delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the meniscus (dGEMRIM), (2) the reproducibility of dGEMRIM and (3) the correlation between meniscus and cartilage T1(GD) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. In 17 OA patients who underwent dGEMRIM twice within 7 days, meniscus and cartilage T1(GD) was calculated. Meniscus pathology was evaluated on conventional MRI. T1(GD) in normal and degenerated menisci were compared using a Student's t-test. Reproducibility was assessed using ICCs. Pearson's correlation was calculated between meniscus and cartilage T1(GD). A trend towards lower T1(GD) in degenerated menisci (mean: 402 ms; 95 % CI: 359-444 ms) compared to normal menisci (mean: 448 ms; 95 % CI: 423-473 ms) was observed (p = 0.05). Meniscus T1(GD) ICCs were 0.85-0.90. The correlation between meniscus and cartilage T1(GD) was moderate in the lateral (r = 0.52-0.75) and strong in the medial compartment (r = 0.78-0.94). Our results show that degenerated menisci have a clear trend towards lower T1(GD) compared to normal menisci. Since these results are highly reproducible, meniscus degeneration may be assessed within one delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI simultaneously with cartilage. The strong correlation between meniscus and cartilage T1(GD) suggests concomitant degeneration in both tissues in OA, but also suggests that dGEMRIC may not be regarded entirely as sulphated glycosaminoglycan specific. aEuro cent dGEMRIM T1 (GD) can possibly be used to assess meniscal degeneration; aEuro cent dGEMRIM yields highly reproducible meniscal T1 (GD) in early stage osteoarthritic patients; aEuro cent Concomitant degeneration of cartilage and meniscus tissue occurs in early stage osteoarthritis; aEuro cent dGEMRIC cannot be regarded as entirely sulphated glycosaminoglycan specific.