Assessing the Repeatability of Quantitative MRI Biomarkers for Osteoarthritis in Knee Cartilage

Motivation: Osteoarthritis (OA) causes knee cartilage degeneration, necessitating reliable biomarkers for early detection. Goal(s): To assess the repeatability of Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and T1rho mapping as quantitative MRI biomarkers for monitoring cartilage integrity in OA. Approach: We conducted a study with seven healthy volunteers, acquiring knee images at two time points using 3T MRI to measure Mean Diffusivity (MD), Fractional Anisotropy (FA), and T1rho values. Results: T1rho and MD demonstrated moderate to strong repeatability, supporting their use for OA monitoring. FA showed lower repeatability, indicating variability. These findings confirm the potential of T1rho and MD as reliable biomarkers for OA progression. Impact: This study underscores the potential of T1rho and MD as repeatable, non-invasive MRI biomarkers for tracking knee cartilage health in OA patients. These findings could guide earlier interventions, inform treatment strategies, and enhance OA monitoring in clinical settings.