T2 MR Fingerprinting in global and focal knee cartilage

Motivation: Simultaneous measurement of multiple parameters during single acquisition saves measurement and post-processing time with reduced motion artifacts. Goal(s): To evaluate and compare T2 mapping of global and focal knee articular cartilage via MR fingerprinting and conventional CPMG sequences. Approach: Volunteer and patient knees were scanned with protocol including MRF and CPMG T2 mapping. The two T2 mapping methods were compared in global cartilage, focal cartilage lesions and morphologically normal appearing cartilage segments. Results: The average bias between the two methods was 17.09 ± 6.3 ms, and correlation was moderate to very high in global cartilage and high in focal cartilage. Impact: T2 mapping with MR fingerprinting is reliable in global and focal articular knee cartilage in terms of segment bulk T2 value assessment when compared to conventional method. Future study will concentrate on longitudinal change in T2 during patient follow-up.