T1 assessment of hip joint cartilage following intra‐articular gadolinium injection: A pilot study

This pilot study defines the feasibility of cartilage assessment in symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement patients using intra‐articular delayed gadolinium‐enhanced MRI of cartilage (ia‐dGEMRIC). Nine patients were scanned preliminary to study the contrast infiltration process into hip joint cartilage. Twenty‐seven patients with symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement were subsequently scanned with intra‐articular delayed gadolinium‐enhanced MRI of cartilage. These T₁ findings were correlated to morphological findings. Zonal variations were studied. This pilot study demonstrates a significant difference between the pre‐ and postcontrast T₁ values (P < 0.001) remaining constant for 45 min. We noted higher mean T₁ values in morphologically normal‐appearing cartilage than in damaged cartilage, which was statistically significant for all zones except the anterior‐superior zone. Intraobserver (0.972) and interobserver correlation coefficients (0.933) were statistically significant. This study outlines the feasibility of intra‐articular delayed gadolinium‐enhanced MRI of cartilage for assessment of cartilage changes in patients with femoroacetabular impingement. It can also define the topographic extent and differing severities of cartilage damage. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.