Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Four-Dimensional CT Analysis Using Sequential 3D-3D Registration
Published on: November 23, 2019
3D-T1rho quantitation of patellar cartilage at 3.0T
S Kubilay Pakin1, Mark E Schweitzer, Ravinder R Regatte
1Virtualscopics, Rochester, New York, New York, USA.
Purpose:
To demonstrate the feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) T(1rho)-weighted imaging of human knee joint at 3.0T without exceeding the specific absorption rate (SAR) limits and the measurement of the baseline T(1rho) values of patellar cartilage and several muscles at the knee joint.
Materials And Methods:
3D gradient-echo sequence with a self-compensating spin-lock pulse cluster of 250 Hz power was used to acquire 3D-T(1rho)-weighted images of the knee joint of five healthy subjects. Global and regional analysis of patellar cartilage T(1rho) were performed. Furthermore, T(1rho) of several periarticular muscles were analyzed.
Results:
The global average T(1rho) value of the patellar cartilage varied from 39 to 43 msec. The regional average T(1rho) values varied from 38 to 42 msec, and from 42 to 44 msec for medial and lateral facets, respectively. In vivo reproducibility of average T(1rho) of patellar cartilage was found to be 5% (coefficient of variation). Similarly, the global average T(1rho) values for biceps femoris, lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, and sartorius varied between 31-46, 29-49, 35-48, and 32-50 msec, respectively.
Conclusion:
We demonstrated the feasibility of 3D-T(1rho)-weighted imaging of the knee joint at 3.0T without exceeding SAR limits.
