A prospective study of subtle knee joint cartilage changes associated with sports injuries using MRI T2 mapping

Background: Magnetic Resonance Imaging plays a vital role in musculoskeletal diagnostics, especially in examining knee joint disorders. T2 mapping, an advanced MRI technique, offers a valuable quantitative approach to evaluate cartilage health and identify early degenerative changes that may not be visible on standard MRI scans. We aimed to compare the sensitivity difference between routine MR protocol and routine MR protocol with T2 mapping. Materials and methods: In the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Medical Imaging, this prospective study involved 47 participants between the ages of 18 and 40 who were referred for an MRI knee scan (GE 3 TESLA PIONEER SIGNA) with a history of sports injury. Following the routine MRI scan, two additional T2 mapping sequences were performed. Based on the patients' MRI reports, the samples were categorized according to the modified Outerbridge grading system. Using MRI post-processing techniques, post-processed images were obtained, and the average cartilage values were measured by placing regions of interest (ROI). Results: The Paired ―t test was used to compare subtle knee joint cartilage changes associated with sports injuries between routine MR protocol and routine MR protocol T2 Maps. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in subtle knee joint cartilage changes associated with sports injuries: MFC, LFC, MTP, LTP as well as PATELLA; between routine MR protocol and routine MR protocol T2 Maps. The Pearson correlation coefficient: (r) as well as Intra class correlation coefficient (ICC): Hence, there was an agreement in the assessment of MFC, LFC, MTP, LTP using routine MR protocol and routine MR protocol T2 Maps. Conclusion: This study findings demonstrated that MR T2 MAPPING showed significant difference in the regions of MFC, LFC, MTP, and LTP compared to Routine MR Protocols.