Quantitative MRI of the vastus medialis using T1 mapping and fat analysis calculation technique for evaluating early-stage knee osteoarthritis

Quantitative MRI of the vastus medialis using T1 mapping and fat analysis calculation technique for evaluating early-stage knee osteoarthritis. Download PDF Abstract Conventional diagnosis and radiographic grading of early-stage knee osteoarthritis (EKOA) rely on visual assessment, which is subjective and limited in monitoring disease progression. More sensitive imaging techniques capable of reflecting microstructural alterations in EKOA are needed to support quantitative assessment.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and grading value of T1 mapping and fat analysis calculation technique (FACT)-derived parameters of vastus medialis combined with clinical indicators in EKOA, and to examine their relationships with Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade, pain severity, lower-limb alignment, and muscle strength. This retrospective study included healthy volunteers and patients with EKOA. Patients with EKOA were categorised into KL grades 0, I, and II groups based on weight-bearing radiographs.

Vastus medialis T1 values and fat fraction (FF) were quantified. Pain intensity was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, muscle strength was graded by manual muscle testing (MMT), and lower-limb alignment was measured with the varus angle. For the discrimination between KL grade 0 and controls, FF alone yielded the highest single‑parameter AUC (0.776), and the combined parameter (T1 + FF) further improved the AUC to 0.845.

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