SAN DIEGO, Calif. - GE Healthcare highlighted a non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method to assess articular cartilage integrity recently at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in San Diego.

CartiGram, an optional application available exclusively on the GE Signa, allows clinicians to non-invasively visualize collagen fiber degradation. When collagen breaks down, due to osteoarthritis for example, there is increased mobility of water in the cartilage and therefore a prolongation in T2 relaxation times. CartiGram automatically generates color-maps based on a scale of T2 values. The color-map is a tool that allows physicians to see changes in the composition of articular cartilage in some cases before changes in the thickness can be seen.

"CartiGram is an extremely powerful diagnostic tool to non-invasively assess articular cartilage integrity," said Hollis G. Potter, MD, Chief of magnetic resonance imaging at Hospital for Special Surgery. "The quantitative T2 mapping has allowed us to discern cartilage breakdown prior to alteration in cartilage thickness."
CartiGram is primarily used to detect changes in cartilage composition at earlier stages, often times resulting in more treatment options for the patient. The ability to non-invasively monitor the progression of changes in cartilage composition helps to optimize the timing of surgical procedures and the response to surgical intervention.

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