Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging is the one of the most potential tools for noninvasive assessment of articular cartilage. MRI has the exclusive property to probe the magnetic characteristics of tissue water, that interacts with macromolecular constituents, collagen and proteoglycans, to provide indirect access to information on the extracellular matrix. The aim of our MRI research is to validate and develop quantitative MRI techniques for structural characterization of articular cartilage. Since the structure and composition of cartilage are closely connected with the function of the tissue, we further aim at elucidating biomechanical properties of the tissue using quantitative MRI techniques. With the recent advances in the pulse sequence technology, we also aim to evaluate musculoskeletal tissues previously almost undetectable with MRI, such as bone, calcified cartilage and meniscus. Currently, primary MRI techniques in use include mapping of T2 relaxation time[1-3] and relaxation time parameters in rotating frame of reference (RFR-techniques) [4-7], magnetization transfer (MT) methods [8,9] and SWeep Imaging with Fourier Transform (SWIFT) [10].

References

  1. Xia Y. Relaxation anisotropy in cartilage by NMR microscopy (muMRI) at 14-microm resolution. Magn Reson Med. 1998 Jun;39(6):941-9.
  2. Nieminen MT, Toyras J, Rieppo J, Hakumaki JM, Silvennoinen J, Helminen HJ, Jurvelin JS. Quantitative MR microscopy of enzymatically degraded articular cartilage. Magn Reson Med. 2000 May;43(5):676-81.
  3. Nissi MJ, Toyras J, Laasanen MS, Rieppo J, Saarakkala S, Lappalainen R, Jurvelin JS, Nieminen MT. Proteoglycan and collagen sensitive MRI evaluation of normal and degenerated articular cartilage. J Orthop Res. 2004 May;22(3):557-64.
  4. Duvvuri U, Reddy R, Patel SD, Kaufman JH, Kneeland JB, Leigh JS. T1rho-relaxation in articular cartilage: effects of enzymatic degradation. Magn Reson Med. 1997 Dec;38(6):863-7.
  5. Regatte RR, Akella SV, Borthakur A, Reddy R. Proton spin-lock ratio imaging for quantitation of glycosaminoglycans in articular cartilage. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2003 Jan;17(1):114-21.
  6. Michaeli S, Sorce DJ, Idiyatullin D, Ugurbil K, Garwood M. Transverse relaxation in the rotating frame induced by chemical exchange. J Magn Reson. 2004 Aug;169(2):293-9.
  7. Liimatainen T, Sorce DJ, O’Connell R, Garwood M, Michaeli S. MRI contrast from relaxation along a fictitious field (RAFF). Magn Reson Med. 2010 Oct;64(4):983-94.
  8. Narvainen J, Hubbard PL, Kauppinen RA, Morris GA. Z-spectroscopy with Alternating-Phase Irradiation. J Magn Reson. 2010 Dec;207(2):242-50. Epub 2010 Sep 15.
  9. Mangia S, De Martino F, Liimatainen T, Garwood M, Michaeli S. Magnetization transfer using inversion recovery during off-resonance irradiation. Magn Reson Imaging. 2011 Dec;29(10):1346-50. Epub 2011 May 20.
  10. Idiyatullin D, Corum C, Park JY, Garwood M. Fast and quiet MRI using a swept radiofrequency. J Magn Reson. 2006 Aug;181(2):342-9. Epub 2006 Jun 19.

Ph.D. theses of our researchers

Jari Rautiainen:

Novel magnetic resonance imaging techniques for articular cartilage and subchondral bone – Studies on MRI relaxometry and short echo time imaging

Jatta Berberat née Kurkijärvi:

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Native and Repaired Articular Cartilage

Mikko Nissi:

Magnetic Resonance Parameters in Quantitative Evaluation of Articular Cartilage

Eveliina Lammentausta:

Structural and Mechanical Characterization of Articular Cartilage and Trabecular Bone with Quantitative NMR

Miika Nieminen:

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Articular Cartilage