The progession of application of delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage on joint diseases

Delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage( dGEMRIC) is a molecular imaging technique. By the constrant agent gadolinium( Gd-DTPA2) and computer image processing software,we can translate the T1 date into T1 images which can show the distribution of glycosaminoglycans( GAG) in articular cartilage[1]. In the 90 s of the last century,Bashir proved that after the injection of Gd- DTPA2,the Gd- DTPA2 could be distributed to the articular cartilage and the T1 value and GAG content of cartilage were in positive correlation,which laid a theoretical foundation for preliminary dGEMRIC technology[2-3]. In recent years,dGEMRIC began to be used in detection of early osteoarthritis[4],cartilage degeneration caused by necrosis of femoral head[5]and hip dysplasia[6],evaluation of curative effect of autologous chondrocyte cell transplantation[7]and joint cartilage changes after trauma[8]. This paper reviewed the main principle of dGEMRIC and its clinical application.