Beyond the Surface: T2 Mapping of Knee Cartilage in Early Osteoarthritis

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee poses a significant burden on global healthcare systems due to its prevalence and associated morbidity. Early detection and intervention are crucial for managing the progression of this degenerative joint disease. T2 mapping, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, has emerged as a promising tool for assessing the biochemical composition and structural integrity of articular cartilage. A comprehensive review of literature establishes the rationale for employing T2 mapping in the context of OA pathophysiology. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the utility of T2 mapping in evaluating early-stage knee OA by comparing T2 values in patients with early OA changes and no OA. Methods: This study was conducted following approval from the institute\'s regulatory and ethics committees in 60 patients referred from the orthopedics department with clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) and those without clinical or radiological evidence of OA. Study was done on a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner with a 8 -channel knee coil. T2 color maps were generated using default software settings and measured in 12 regions manually. Cartilage thickness analysis across knee compartments was done in axial, sagittal and coronal PDFS images. Results &Discussion: IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.0 was used for data analysis. Statistical analysis using the unpaired t-test revealed a statistically significant increase in average T2 values (P = 0.0005) in early OA patients compared to controls without OA. Cartilage thickness analysis across knee compartments showed no significant differences between OA patients and controls without OA. These findings underscore MR T2 mapping\'s potential to detect early cartilage matrix degeneration in OA, despite similar cartilage thickness between groups. Conclusion: The findings from this study contribute to enhancing our understanding of the early biochemical changes in knee cartilage associated with OA progression. In conclusion, this thesis advocates for the integration of T2 mapping into clinical practice as a valuable adjunct to conventional imaging techniques for diagnosing and managing early osteoarthritis of the knee.