Objectives: To demonstrate the feasibility of time-reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession (FISP) called PSIF for diffusion-weighted imaging of cartilage and cartilage transplants in a clinical study.
Material and methods: In a cross-sectional study 15 patients underwent MRI using a 3D partially balanced steady-state gradient echo pulse sequence with and without diffusion weighting at two different time points after matrix-associated autologous cartilage transplantation (MACT). Mean diffusion quotients (signal intensity without diffusion-weighting divided by signal intensity with diffusion weighting) within the cartilage transplants were compared to diffusion quotients found in normal cartilage.
Results: The global diffusion quotient found in repair cartilage was significantly higher than diffusion values in normal cartilage (p<0.05). There was a decrease between the earlier and the later time point after surgery.
Conclusions: In-vivo diffusion-weighted imaging based on the PSIF technique is possible. Our preliminary results show follow-up of cartilage transplant maturation in patients may provide additional information to morphological assessment.